Air Commodore Sharadkumar Ramakrishna Deshpande was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on the 29th May, 1959. Since then, he has held many important and prestigious operational and administrative appointments and has throughout acquitted himself in an exemplary manner.

On the 4th November, 1988, he took over Command of an Air Force Station which is vital to the defence of the nation's capital. Soon thereafter, he was involved in the intense preparations for Air Power Demonstration which was held on the 18th March, 1989 at Tilpat firing range. His station played a vital role in the conduct of this widely acclaimed event. Air Cmde Deshpande displayed very high quality of management skill, hard work and indefatigable spirit in meeting this additional task besides his normal operational and administrative responsibilities.

During 1989-90, a fighter squadron was reequipped with MiG-27 aircraft and was located at his Station. In spite of numerous teething problems, the squadron has achieved fully operational status under his watchful eye, leadership and guidance within a short period.

Air Commodore Sharadkumar Ramakrishna Deshpande, VM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal SR Deshpande, AVSM, VM was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 28 May 59. He has had the distinction of commanding a premier fighter Squadron and two operational fighter bases. The Air Officer is a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor and Fighter Combat Leader. He has served as an AF examiner in Aircrew Examining Board and as a directing staff in Tactics and Combat Development Establishment. An MA in Sociology, he is an alumni of Defence Services Staff College, National Defence College and College of Defence Management. His vast reservoir of knowledge, professionalism and ability to interact were amply displayed during his diplomatic assignment as Air Attaché in Embassy of India at Islamabad, Pakistan. He has also held important appointments of Director of Personnel Officers at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ South Western Air Command. The Air Officer was awarded VM in 1976 and AVSM in 1991. Air Marshal Deshpande was appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff on 02 Mar 94. He is responsible for Planning and establishing long term re-equipment of IAF. He has formulated various modernisation plans, namely, MiG upgradation, procurement of Electronic Warfare equipment and other force multipliers and put them on firm footing all within the budgetary allocations. His phenomenal flair to interact effectively with civil officers at the highest level has been the hall mark of his professional excellence. He has left an indelible imprint in all the appointments he has held during his career spanning 36 years.

Air Marshal SR Deshpande, AVSM, VM has rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.