Air Commodore Kukkehalli Prabhakar Hegde was commissioned on 27 Feb 1963. As a Flight Lieutenant medical trooper he, unmindful of the risk to his life, undertook mission to save aircrash victims in hostile terrain in Eastern Sector.

In 1969, he became a Medical specialist and served with distinction at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and several Air Force Hospitals. His proficiency and clinical skill led to his being specially selected for the prestigious appointments as Staff Surgeon to the Chief Of the Air Staff in 1982. His outstanding services were recognized with the award of Vishisht Seva Medal in 1986. In 1987, he became Senior Advisor in Medicine for several service hospitals. He was instrumental in starting post graduate courses in all major clinical subjects at Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore duly recognized by Bangalore University and Medical Council of India. This was a matter of great prestige to medical services and helped many to obtain post graduate degree and improve quality of medical care.

As an Air Commodore, he was posted as Joint Director General Medical Services at Air HQ in Nov 1992. By his varied professional experience, he achieved significant modernization of Air Force Hospitals, Station Sick Quarters and Dental Centres.

In December 1993, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME). Under his stewardship many new diagnostic facilities have been added. The procedures have been reorganized so that the specialist facilities are now extended to outpatients also as a routine. This has benefited serving as well as retired service personnel.

Air Commodore Kukkehalli Prabhakar Hegde VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.