Wing Commander Manmohan Singh Vasudeva was commissioned in May, 1961. During the past twenty years he has achieved fully operational status on three different fighter aircraft, namely Hunter, Gnat and MiG-21. The officer has more than 800 accident-free flying hours on MiG-21 aircraft. He has served in four MiG squadrons as senior pilot, Flight Commander and subsequently as Squadron Commander. Also, he has spent over a year and half on production testing flying five types of aircraft, including transport type. He has, in addition, successfully completed the Defence Services Staff College and Surface to Air Guided Weapon courses and is a Fighter Combat Leader of recognized repute.

In January, 1978, the officer was posted to a forward base as Chief Operations Officer. Undaunted by the handicap of being the only officer posted to Ops wing he undertook with drive and determination, the reorgisation of the entire Ops Wing to gear it to undertake fighter operations, continuing the air maintenance operations from the base amounting to the total task of the entire Air Command. Initially single-handed and later aided by another officer posted in as Station Flight Safety Officer, he set up the Base Ops Complex, including Strike Cell, Intelligence Room and Ground Liaison Section, initiated provisioning of arrester barriers and laying of soft ground arresters, and forced the pace for completion of the Airfield Lighting. The fact that the newly arrived fighter squadron won the Inter Unit Gunnery and Air Force Instrument Flying Trophy in that first year of its stay at the base speaks volumes for Wing Commander Vasudevas's exceptional Organisational ability, leadership and managerial skills.

Subsequently in November, 1979, he was appointed Squadron Commander of the same squadron. During his tenure in 1980 the Squadron with only half the strength of a fighter aircraft achieved the same amount of annual flying as in the previous three years. This noteworthy achievement was possible due to Wing Commander Vasudeva's personal example, great enthusiasm for flying his unlimited capacity for hard work and his outstanding leadership in the air and on the ground. In addition, there has been no aircraft accident on the Station during his tenure as COO, and in the squadron during his tenure as officer commanding. Considering the fact that nine different types of aircrafts operate daily from this base, this is an achievement worthy of special mention. Also, he has been responsible for the activation of the nearby Air to Ground Firing Range for night armament firing and has successfully trained many pilots in the difficult and specialized night strike role.

Wing Commander Manmohan Singh Vasudeva has thus displayed high professional competence and exceptional devotion to duty.

Air Commodore Manmohan Singh Vasudeva was detailed to take over the Air Force Cell at the Indian Peace Keeping Force HQ, Madras. Air Cmde Vasudeva did a commendable job in setting up and organising the Air Force Cell within a short period and making it fully operational, inspite of shortage of manpower and insufficient support services available to him.

With considerable diligence and initiative, he successfully created the requisite infrastructure and support services at Jaffna, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Batticaloa, for operation of transport aircraft, Pratap helicopters and Akbar armed helicopters in support of the IPKF in Sri Lanka. These timely arrangements greatly facilitated the massive induction of troops, tanks and associated fighting equipment of the Indian Army into Sri Lanka.

Air Cmde Vasudeva was responsible for planning and co-ordination of offensive missions by Akbar and missile carrying helicopter and special heliborne missions by Pratap helicopters in support of the IPKF fighting in inhospitable and difficult terrain in Sri Lanka. The success of all the cordon and search operations conducted by the IPKF can be attributed to the timely heli-lift support by Pratap helicopter and the fire cover provided by Akbars and missile carrying helicopters missions, which were personally planned and coordinated by Air Cmde Vasudeva. The battle tested operating procedures worked out by him for offensive missions of helicopter have contributed in achieving maximum mission success, without losing any helicopter or aircraft to the militants' action.

Air Commodore Manmohan Singh Vasudeva, VM thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order during IPKF operation in Sri Lanka.

Air Marshal MS Vasudeva was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 31st May, 1961. During his long and distinguished career he has held a number of important command and staff appointments which include command of a large and active air base in the Eastern Sector, Addl Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) at Air HQ, Air Defence Commander at both Western Air Command and South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at the Central Air Command.

During the Indian Peace Keeping Operation in Sri Lanka (IPKF), the Air Marshal was appointed as the AOC, with the overall responsibility for planning and execution of all Air Operations in support of the IPKF, For 'Distinguished Service of Exceptional Order' in Sri Lanka, the Air Marshal was awarded the Presidential award of 'Uttam Yudh Seva Medal'.

A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington the Air Officer has held various staff appointments and has displayed remarkable clarity in thought and reasoning in modifying the Air Defence Philosophy while functioning as the Air Defence Commander in the Western and South Western Sector.

As the Deputy Chief of Air Staff he had overall responsibility of long term planning including the force structure planning of the Indian Air Force; laying down qualitative requirements for acquisition of all future equipment viz Aircraft, radars, weapons etc and testing of such systems for the future induction into the Air Force. Bulk of the work done by the Air Officer during this tenure remains on the highly classified list. However, his service to the Air Force specially in the field of Perspective Planning both in force structure planning and financial planning keeping in mind the realistic approach to operational needs of the IAF have gone a long way in enhancing the operational preparedness and capability of the IAF.

Air Marshal MS Vasudeva UYSM VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.