Air Cmde Gulshan Kumar Kwatra was commissioned on 06 April 1964 in Engineering Branch of the IAF. He performed creditably during 1971 War and was Mentioned in Despatches. He has held appointments of Chief Engineering Officer at Uttarlai, Chief of Planning and Chief of Aircraft at a Base Repair Depot and staff appointments at Air Headquarters. He has also been on deputation to the Botswana Defence Forces.

He was appointed Chief Engineering Officer at Air Force Station Bidar with effect from 07 Dec 1992 at a time when works services for Airfield Lighting Project were moving at a slow pace. With his vast managerial experience, high intellectual acumen, sheer grit and determination he analysed the prevailing bottlenecks and initiated remedial measures. These efforts resulted in completion of the project on time.

He was responsible for recovery of 12 aircraft grounded for prolonged period, speedy aircraft structural repairs and sustained high aircraft serviceability. He demonstrated air worthiness of over 40 aircraft by achieving 100% serviceability and flying all aircraft on 12 occasions.

He spearheaded a drive for inventory control resulting in saving of Rs. 57 lakhs. His involvement in commissioning of Modern Servicing Garage and repairs of safety vehicles resulted in substantial savings.

He was responsible in minimising aircraft accidents and incidents due to technical reasons and achieving zero vehicle accident rate. He introduced a number of modifications and innovative maintenance practices and safety measures. His professionalism and dynamic approach added a new dimension in achieving high maintenance standards.

For distinguished service of high order the President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Air Cmde Gulshan Kumar Kwatra.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra was commissioned on 06 April 1964 in Engineering Branch of the 1AF. He performed creditably during 1971 War for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. He has held appointments of Chief Engineering Officer at Uttarlai and at Bidar, Chief of Planning and Chief of Aircraft at a Base Repair Depot and staff appointments at Air Headquarters. He has also been on deputation to the Botswana Defence Force.

For his distinguished service he was also awarded Vishisht Seva Medal.

Presently, he is appointed as Director Maintenance Plans and Quality Assurance at Air Headquarters since 01 Nov 96, where he has analysed numerous maintenance problems and initiated prompt remedial measures. His efforts have resulted in enhancing flight safety, streamlining maintenance practices/ giving impetus to indigenisation and improving work efficiency. He has been responsible for speedy introduction of quality control measures which resulted in ensuring high cleanliness standard of aircraft fuels. His singular involvement in introduction of measures to streamline the process of technical defect reporting and investigation have contributed immensely in taking timely preventive measures. He has also been responsible for successful and timely completion of trials on cocooning of Pechora equipment, which enabled the 1AF to save valuable equipment life, reduce maintenance expenditure and maintain combat equipment in operational readiness.

His other significant contributions include pioneering work towards recognition of military aviation skills for entry to civil aviation sector, measures to overcome tech cadre shortage, contribution towards retention of specialised skills and introduction of modem training facilities for skill development in handling state of art weapon systems. Air Vice Marshal Kwatra is also a fellow of Aeronautical Society of India and member of various National Advisory Panels and Committees.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra, VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of exceptional.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra AVSM VSM (8001) AE (M) was commissioned in IAF in Apr 1964. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering, he successfully completed his conversion course in Aeronautical Engineering and Engineering Management in IAF from Air Force Technical College at Bangalore.

He is a Fellow of Aeronautical Society, of India and has held high offices including Presidentship of its Delhi Chapter. During his service in IAF, he has qualified on maintenance of five different types of aircraft and helicopters and underwent specialist training in UK and USA on aircraft and aeroengine.

A specialist in aviation maintenance, he has served the IAF during the last 36 years in various capacities. At the first and second line levels of maintenance, he rose to be a Chief Engineer of a Flying Training Establishment. He has also been the Chief of Production and Chief of Planning in a Base Repair Depot overhauling aircraft, helicopters and their accessories. In view of his rich experience, innovative thinking and unrelenting initiatives, he was deputed to a friendly country where he excelled in helping that country to set up its own infrastructure for aviation maintenance.

In his present appointment as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Maintenance Plans), he has been conceptualising maintenance policies in IAF. He is personally responsible for enabling the IAF in taking a significant step forward in setting up infrastructure at Type Training Schools which has set new standards of training in Defence Services with enormous contribution to Flight and Maintenance Safety.

A rare combination of multi-facetted talent with boundless energy, he finds more hours in a day and is capable of performing multiple activities concurrently. The indigenisation and self reliance efforts of IAF, which have reached new heights in the recent years, are clue to his singular contribution.

He is the Air Force representative of the Fifth Pay Commission and a host of sensitive issues have been resolved by his uncanny acumen for human psychology, trouble shooting and systematic analysis.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra AVSM VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.