Air Marshal Velayudhan Girish Kumar AVSM VM is on the posted strength of the Directorate General of Defence Planning Staff, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Ministry of Defence since 02 Jun 97. He has over 8000 hours of flying to his credit. He has held many key Command, Staff and Instructional appointments in the IAF. In his present appointment as Director General of the Defence Planning Staff he heads the highest level inter-services organisation in the country providing forecasts and analysis on issues of utmost importance to the nation and the armed forces. In this regard, he has carried out several incisive studies, including forecast of the future Indo-US security concerns and a prognosis of the economic and military trends in a neighbouring country. These analyses have proved to be extraordinarily accurate in the light of events that have unfolded over the past year. He has formulated policy imperatives governing strategic weapons and their command and control. He has also examined indepth the higher defence organisation of the country which has been well received at the highest quarters. While dealing with international relations, he has been projecting an excellent image of the armed force and the Government of India. He also hosted several foreign delegations on their visit to India and put across the rationale for India's foreign policy and military posture very effectively. As regards inter-services issues, Air Marshal Kumar has played an extremely effective role in promoting jointness in the Services with respect to operational, fiscal, equipment and personnel policies. In this context, he was instrumental in formulating the Ninth Defence Plan in a manner acceptable to the three Services and the Government. As an Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he has provided valuable insights and recommendations to resolve major issues affecting the three Services, including measures to optimize scarce resources available to the armed forces. Air Marshal Velayudhan Girish Kumar AVSM VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the highest order. |