Air Marshal Parameswaraiyer Venkatachalam lyer, Logistics, was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 5 December, 1951.

He was specially selected as Assistant Air Attaché in the Indian Embassy, Moscow, an assignment he handled very competently. On his return from Moscow, he took over the Command of an Equipment Depot holding spares of all Russian aircraft which played an extremely vital role during the 1971 operations. Air Marshal lyer's distinguished services as a Commander of this Depot were recognised and he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal. Thereafter he commanded two more Equipment Depots. In both these units, he brought to bear the same qualities of leadership which enabled the Depots to improve their performance enormously.

He was appointed as Air Officer Logistics Management at HQ Maintenance Command in the rank of Air Commodore on 01 December, 1981. A notable achievement during this period was the formalisation of despatch of aero­engines by civil road transport, a method that has removed bottlenecks in the availability of aero­engines at the units.

On 1 February, 1984, he was elevated to the rank of Air Vice Marshal. He introduced total involvement of Air Force Liaison establishments with the rotables management to reduce the number of Aircraft Operationally Grounded in the Indian Air Force.

He pursued it further after taking over as Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, Maintenance Command in the rank of Air Marshal on 01 May, 1985. Due to his untiring efforts an exceptionally large number of AOGs were cleared in 1985-86.

Air Marshal Iyer's contribution in the field of sports and adventure activities has also been unique. He represented India in the first Asian Veterans Athletic Meet at Singapore in 1981 and won 5000 metre race thus boosting the image of IAF and the country. He was AVSM 1987 the originator and the guiding spirit behind the Air Force Anniversary Run from Agra to Delhi held in October 1985. He ran the entire distance leading 300 other participants. He was the Chairman Air Force Sports Control Board during the period 1984-85. His career has been saga of service to the Air Force and to the country. By total dedication, he has achieved a name for himself and the IAF.

Air Marshal Rajgopal Sriramulu Naidu Flying (Pilot), presently Senior Air Staff Officer, Headquarter Training Command, was commissioned on 16 June, 1951. Selected to do the prestigious Flying Instructors Course as a young officer, he attained a very high standard in ground as well as flying. He served as the Naval Air Attaché in Bangkok for a period three years.

On promotion to the rank of Air Commodore, he was Command of a prestigious Transport Wing. On appointment as Commandant, Air Force Academy in the rank of Air Vice Marshal, the Air Officer brought about improvements not only in the maintenance and training, but also in the quality of flying. During his tenure, the rate was one of the lowest and flight safety record amongst the best.

He was the first Air Officer to be selected to the prestigious appointment of Military Secretary to the President of India. His honesty, integrity and devotion to duty brought him very close not only to the President's aides and Secretariat but also the civil dignitaries in the Ministries. During this tenure, he was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal and yet retained by the President as Military Secretary for quite some time. This speaks highly of his credibility with the President.

Currently as Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Training Command, he has initiated significant changes towards meeting the deadline set for achieving of assigned tasks, without compromising quality. He has encouraged extensive use of modern audio­visual aids and computers, thus matching the training to the demands of high technology of present day Air Force.

The intellectual brilliance, integrity, dedication and high leadership qualities make Air Marshal RS Naidu as an asset to the Air Force. He has never compromised standards and produced consistently excellent record of performance in all his appointments. Air Marshal RS Naidu has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Parduman Krishan Puri was commissioned in the Flying (Navigation) Branch of the Indian Air Force in January 1953.

Air Marshal Puri joined National Defence College as Senior Directing Staff (Air) in January 1984. He has acquired deep knowledge of India's strategic environment, and appreciation of the geo­political factors. His most significant contribution has been in the areas of Science and Technology, Long Range Defence Planning and in the study of Economics of Indian Defence. His conceptual ability and inquisitive mind have enormously helped in enhancing the body of knowledge in these areas and in elevating the level of studies to a very high standard.

Air Vice Marshal Pothamsetti Prasanna Madhava, Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics), was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October 1952. As a young Signals officer in a Transport Squadron in 1954, he improved the serviceability of the airborne electronics. On return from the U.K. where he was trained on Viscount aircraft, he was posted to Air Headquarter Communication Squadron and assigned the responsibility of setting up the complete servicing facilities for the airborne electronics of the Viscount fleet and five other types of aircraft operated by the squadron and for training of squadron personnel

The officer has held important appointments at the various Command Headquarters as Command Systems Officer, Command Signals Officer and Senior Maintenance Staff Officer.

Air Vice Marshal Pulaveri Srinivasa Rajagopalan Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force 5 April 1954.

He was specially chosen for various foreign courses and assignment such as training with Marconi in a radar equipment for Canberra Aircraft in U.K. Post Graduate Course in College of Aeronautics, Cranfield U.K., Acceptance Testing of High Power Amplifier of Air Defence Ground Environment System, Communications system in the USA, besides being detailed as contingent Commander, rear party of the UN assignment in Congo in 1962.

In 1978-79 as Senior Project Engineer, inCharge of System Technical Development in Radar and Communication Project Organisation conducted the Tethered Balloon experiment for metrological measurements, to identify a suitable location for installation of High Power Air Defence Radar.

In 1983, he took over the command of Air Force Station, Jalahali. He applied himself whole heartedly to bring about all round improvement in functional and administrative efficiency, as well as morale and welfare.

He took over as the Director of Signals at Air Headquarters in 1985. Immediately, he carried out a thorough review of the Policy and Plan of the systems and procedures in vogue with a view to asses their capability to assimilate the latest developments in the field of communication/electronics and ensure optimum utilisation in peace and war.

Some of his notable achievements include planning of a total integrated communication systems, dovetailed into the National Modernisation Plan of the Department of Telecommunications, evolving a secure Anti-jam Ground-toAir Communication system through updated spread spectrum techniques and solution to the long outstanding problem of development of an operationally viable system for Air to Air integration of fighter fleet without compromising equipment parameters.

He also carried out Data Communication capability assessment in ADGES­network AVSM 1987 and established the basic norms for evolving the system. He also conceived and developed Tactical Information Distribution System, incorporating Jam­resistant and secure Communication for large number of users in the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

AVM PS Rajagopalan has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Suresh Chand Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October 1953. In his career of 33 years, he has held, with distinction, various appointments both in the field and at higher formations.

He was appointed Air II of an Operational Command, initially in the rank of Group Captain and subsequently in the rank of Air Commodore. During this tenure, he ensured optimal utilisation of the scarce transport resources. In January, 1983, he took over Command of an important Air Base. Under his inspiring leadership, the flying units at the Base were able to achieve their flying tasks and the serviceability of aircraft was maintained at high level. On promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal he took over as Senior Officerin­Charge, Administration of Training Command. He was later appointed SASO in the same Command.

By his high degree of professional competence and deep knowledge of flying training, he was able to enhance the quality of training at various training institutions in the Command. In April 1986, he took over as Director Training at Air Headquarters. He has continued to display qualities of clear thinking and professional excellence in this assignment.

AVM S Chand has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Abraham Mathews, Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) was commissioned in the erstwhile Technical/ Signals branch in September, 1953. He has a total of 2200 active flying hours to his credit.

During March 1983 to June, 1985, he held the post of Air Officer Commanding of a major Maintenance base. His performance record and AOC of this large station, was excellent and during this period both the Base Repair Depots achieved 100% production.

He took over as Deputy Senior Maintenance Staff Officers of HQ MC in the rank of Air Vice Marshal. He was responsible for supervising functional aspects of all the aircraft, aero­engine and Electronic Base Repair Depots.

As a member of the 'La Fontain' Committee on Flight Safety, he has been instrumental in identifying the existing weaknesses in the training and development of technical personnel of the IAF and making valuable recommendations to overcome them.

Air Vice Marshal Abraham Mathews has, thus, rendered distinguished service order of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Surendra Nath Chaturvedi, Accounts, has been the Director of Accounts at Air Headquarters since June, 1984. His responsibilities include the formulation and monitoring of accounting policies in the Air Force, as also the higher management of all central non­public funds.

He is exceptionally competent, dedicated and results oriented officer. Because of his keen interest, many procedural changes have been implemented to ensure simplified and efficient rendition of accounting services. Audit objections have been kept at a minimum level, and all cases of personal hardship upon/ after retirement resolved expeditiously.

Air Vice Marshal Sukh Dev Mohan Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in March, 1954. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and Pilot Attack Instructor, had done the Long Defence Management Course and is a graduate of the National Defence College.

Air Vice Marshal Mohan is presently posted as Air-1 at Headquarter of an Operational Command where he is responsible for all fighter, bomber and Air Observation Post, Operations within the Command. He is directly involved in organising and conducting all Air exercises such as Joint exercises, Air Defence exercises and Early Warning exercises etc. In all these tasks, he has displayed a rare degree of maturity, devotion and dedication which has indeed been the hall­mark of his entire service career.

Air Commodore Parkash Singh Devgan was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps in September 1953 and seconded to the Air Force from the same date. He qualified as a paratrooper in 1955 and Commanded two paramedical flights upto 1958.

He was appointed as Commanding Officer No. 9 Air Force Hospital and Senior Medical Officer of a forward Air base during 1974-77 and did pioneering work for the fitness of the aircrew. As Principal Medical Officer of Headquarter Maintenance Command from June 1977-79, he organised effective medical cover and brought down the morbidity rate to the lowest level. The general health and the family welfare activities got an impetus in the Command which was adjudged the best in the Air Force. He was the first Air Force Medical Officer selected to undergo National Defence College course in 1980.

Gp Capt Avnish Kumar Verma, Dental, was commissioned in October 1960. He holds a Master's Degree in Dental and Oral Surgery and a Fellowship from the International Academy of Oral Surgeons of Denmark.

The Officer has commanded various Air Force Dental Centres with distinction. He was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Dental Digest Group in 1972 for developing specialized dental techniques. A specialist in Maxiilofacial Oral Surgery, he organised a Maxillofacial reconstructive facility at Air Force Hospital, Kanpur, during 1974-79. It was also due to his zeal and resourcefulness that the AVSM 1987-88 Hospital was able to set up a centre for Primary Ablative Surgery and Immediate Cosmetic and Functional Repair for orofacial cancer cases.

Gp Capt Raghavan Gopalaswami joined the IAF in 1959, and through successive tenures in the Defence Research Development Organisation over the period 1964-1976, he pioneered work which laid a strong foundation for the development of rocket propellant development in the country, for which he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).

The officer was deputed by the DRDO to the Advanced Management programme of the Harvard University which he completed successfully. On his return, he provided leadership in preparation of the DRDO 5-year plan and in developing advanced computer­interactive decision support systems which helped in drawing up, for the first time of a comprehensive Manpower Plan for the DRDO.

This work also resulted in the development of an effective mathematical model and computer programme to help the Air Force decide on an optimum force­mix and force structure for the year 1995 and beyond.

Gp Capt R Gopalaswamy has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.