| Details : |  Air Vice Marshal Kantipludi Suresh Babu (17588) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in Meteorological branch on 14 Jun 1985. Apart from holding various important appointments in field units, he has held several instructional and staff appointments, which include tenure as Senior Directing Staff (Met) at Air Force Administrative College, C Met 0 at HQ EAC and Principal Director (Met) at Air HQ before taking over as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Met) on 01 Jan 2013. During his tenure as C Met 0, HQ WAC, he ensured that operational Met guidelines and advisories of exceptional order were issued for smooth conduct of routine operational flying as well as for various exercises in the AOR of HQ EAC. As Directing Staff in the Faculty of Meteorology, he brought about significant improvements in the course curriculum be revamping in-service courses. He has been commended by AOC-in-C in 2001 and by the CAS in 2004. During his tenure appointment as PO (Met) at Air HQ and thereafter as ACAS (Met), his professional vision and dedicated approach has enabled modernisation of the Met infrastructure in the IAF. He oversaw and ensured proper installation and commissioning of Microwave Radiometers (MWR), Lightning Detection System (LTS) Network, High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) Receiver and Digital Theodolites for weather observation. Under his able leadership, Centre for Air Force Numerical Weather Prediction (AFCNWP) has emerged as the meteorological centre of excellence for operational guidance for the Indian Air Force and is being utilised by operators as well as forecasters all over the IAF. He was instrumental in provisioning of accurate weather observation and quality weather forecasts during conduct of various exercises like Iron Fist, Live Wire, Dakshin Prahar, Eastern Seaboard, Shock Effect besides national events like RD Parade and HADR Operations like Megh Rahat and Cyclone Hudbud .. It is due to his dynamism and proactive approach that the Met service are fine-tuned and operationally critical and relevant data on wind shear, icing information etc. are continuously updated on the web portal, 'Mausam on Line', developed in-house at no extra cost to the exchequer. The portal comprehensively addresses the requirements of Met services and products for the various users across the Air Force. Relentless and meticulous efforts put in by the Air Officer have culminated in successful conclusion of the contract for 11 Doppler Weather Radars. With the induction of these DWRs, the current lots of projects for modernisation of Met services will be completed, greatly enhance the flight safety environment in the IAF. For distinguished service of high order, Hon'ble President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Air Vice Marshal Kantipudi Suresh Babu. |
