| Details : | Group Captsain Padippurackal Thekkethil Krishnapillai Sreekumar (19722) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as Engineer in Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) branch on 12 Sep 88. He had the distinction of being appointed the first Commanding Officer (CO) of Maintenance Officers Categorisation Board (MOCB). His previous key appointments include field tenures in IL-76 fleet and Signal Intelligence (SI) formation,Chief Instructor (Cl) at IL-76/1L-78 TETTRA School, Sqn Cdr of Testers Calibration Lab at 5 BRD, Chief Engineering officer (CEO) of the IL-76 base at Nagpur. His vital inputs, during tenure at SI formation in late 1990s, on information security facilitated crucial decision of relocating TACDE from Jamnagar to Gwalior. The officer was specially selected to undergo training on aerial refuelling systems of IL 78 at Israel during. Subsequently, as Chief Instructor he ensured absorption of this force multiplier capability in record time. During his tenure as Chief Engineering officer (CEO) in 201 0-11 at AF Station Nagpur, the Station was adjudged best Mechanical Transport At of Central Pill Command and one of the best three AFNET units in IAF He played a significant role in shifting the lL- 76 Sqn from Nagpur to Chandigarh resulting in enhanced and continual availability of the fleet, a fact proven during Exercise Live Wire also. He stood first in order of merit in Technical Staff Officers Course. He was commended by Chief of Air Staff in act 98 for meritorious service. In his present assignment as Commanding Officer (CO) of Maintenance Officers Categorisation Board (MOCB), he was entrusted to establish a system of categorisiog Aeronautical Engineering and Logistics branch officers of the IAF so as to enhance professional capabilities of officers. Such a scheme did not exist in the past. He not only formed and established the unit in a short period but also commenced categorisation of officers within three and a half months of unit formation. This involved struct wing various procedures, syllabi, test patterns for 50 different streams and establishing 26 test centres for conducting categorisation examination. He relentlessly travelled to more than 35 AF units, categorising 303 officers in two years, thus realising a dream task which hitherto was believed as insurmountable. He successfully and flawlessly executed all facets of categorisation process including that of the cat 'f(. process beyond the organisational expectations. The transformation of a concept from paper to practice showcased an envious and unprecedented success, which has become a springboard for other projects in general and categorisation task of other branches of IAF in particular. For distinguished service of high order,Hon'ble President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Group Captain Padippwackal Thekkethil Krishnapillai Sreekumar. |
