Wing Commander Partha Kumar Dey was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1953. He has been on the posted strength of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment since February, 1973, as the Chief Test Pilot. He has been associated with Flight Testing assignments since 1958. As a test pilot, he has held many important posts such as the Indian Air Force representative Test Pilot with Folland Aircraft Ltd. for the Gnat Development and as Test Pilot with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the development of indigenous aircraft. He has participated in the flight test development of a number of prototype such as Gnat, Marut, Kiran, Pushpak, Krishak and Jet Packet. He has made an extremely valuable contribution to the design and development of aircraft and systems within the country. He has flown various types of aircraft which included evaluation of a number of supersonic advanced aircraft of widely varying designs. He has flown 1100 hours on flight testing of indigenous aircraft and equipment. During his tenures as test pilot he has been in a number of difficult and hazardous situations. He has coped successfully with the situations without a single incident of loss or damage to the aircraft and equipment under development. He has successfully commanded two operational squadrons. He has also been on the Directing Staff of the Defence Services Staff College. In the present appointment as the Chief Test Pilot, he has shown extreme devotion to duty and made an outstanding contribution to the aeronautical development in the country in general and flight testing in particular.

Throughout, Wing Commander Partha Kumar Dey has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Partha Kumar Dey, was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1953. In his long and distinguished career spread over 34 years, he has held important command and staff appointments. A graduate of National Defence College, he has held the prestigious assignment of Directing Staff of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

After a successful tenure as Air Attaché in USA he took over Command of a major Fighter Base. Under his inspiring leadership and guidance, the station was brought to a new peak of operational preparedness. He also effected noticeable improvement in the administrative, sports and welfare facilities of the station.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal in July 1986 he was posted as Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command and later Chief of Staff at Western Air Command. In both these appointments he was instrumental in enhancing the operational preparedness and combat capability of various elements of both the Commands by virtue of his own professional competence, deep knowledge of Air Operations and dynamic approach to solving problems. His current appointment as Director General of the newly created Defence Planning Staff is a further testimony to his analytical and conceptual capabilities.

Air Marshal Partha Kumar Dey, AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the exceptional order.