Wing Commander Keshavamurthy Ramachandra Rao (3793) was commissioned in the Technical Signals Branch of the Indian Air Force of the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. He has attended a number of specialist and staff course in Indian and abroad, in which his performance has been of the highest order. He was awarded the Woods of Colchester Prize in 1962 for standing first in his course at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield (UK) thus bringing credit to the Air Force and the nation.

After holding a wide variety of appointments at units, Repair Depots and Air Headquarters, Wing Commander Rao has been on deputation to the Indian Space Research Organisation since May 1965. Till recently, he was Director of the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station, Ahmedabad. In addition to his responsibilities as Director ESCES, he was entrusted with the responsibility of setting up the Arvi Satellite Communication Earth Station for the Department of Communication. Wing Commander Ra has a flair for tackling projects involving new technology and the challenging task of setting up of the Arvi Station provided him an opportunity to utilize his technical knowledge, professional skill, creative mind and sound and thorough organizing ability. In setting up the Arvi Station, Wing Commander Rao accomplished a very important task. The most important single unit made for the first time in India, namely a large 97 ft. steerable antenna involving sophisticated engineering, has been completed in record time and has met and, in some particulars, exceeded all technical performance requirements. His pioneering work has put Indian on the space communication map.

Wing Commander Keshavamurthy Ramachandra Rao has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.