Rao Qamar Suleman
| Rao Qamar Suleman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 (age 57–58)[1] |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Service/branch |  Pakistan Air Force (Pak/ 6256)[2] |
| Years of service | 1975 – |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | PAF Base Peshawar PAF Air War College Southern Air Command DG Air Force Strategic Command DCAS (Operations) Chief of Air Staff |
| Battles/wars | War in North-West Pakistan |
| Awards | Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, NI(M), SBt (Urdu: راؤ قمر سلیمان; born 1954) is the current Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff who replaced Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed on 18 March 2009.[3]
He was appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari after consultation with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.[1] In the process of ascension, the air chief superseded three senior air marshals: Shahid Lateef, the vice chief of air staff; Khalid Choudhry, chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex; and Hifazat Ullah Khan, deputy chief of air staff (personnel). Later however, Air Marshal Hifazat was made the vice chief of air staff (VCAS) on 29 March 2009.[4]
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[edit] Air Force career
Air Chief Marshal Suleman, who belongs to Lahore, got his initial training from PAF Public School, Sargodha where he belonged to the 17th entry (851 – Sabre House).[5] Thereafter, he joined Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur in 1972 and was commissioned in Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot on 1 June 1975 in the 59th GD(P) Course.
The Air Chief Marshal is a graduate of Flying Instructors’ School, Combat Commanders’ School, PAF Air War College and National Defence College, Islamabad from where he did his masters in Strategic Studies.[6]
[edit] Command and staff appointments
Suleman has commanded No. 15 Squadron, No. 31 Wing, PAF Base Peshawar and Southern Air Command. He also served in United Arab Emirates Air Force on deputation.
In staff jobs, the Air Chief Marshal has served as directing staff at PAF Air War College where he later served as officer; deputy director at Operations Branch,[1] assistant chief of staff (plans), assistant chief or air staff (evaluation)[7] and deputy inspector general of Pakistan Air Force[1] at air headquarters. His senior staff appointments includes director-general Air Force Strategic Command and deputy chief of air staff (operations) at the air headquarters, Islamabad.
Suleman was promoted to air vice marshal on 9 October 2003[7] and to air marshal on 15 November 2007.[6] He has been awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Basalat, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military). The last one of which was awarded to all the services chiefs.
[edit] Chief of Air Staff
Pakistan Air Force under ACM Rao Qamar Suleman performed better in the War against militants than his predecessor ACM Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed. Suleman, along with army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, led successful aerial operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA against Pakistani Taliban groups. Under ACM Suleman's umbrella, the PAF successfully targeted its objectives, mainly sabotaging the Taliban infrastructure, and killed the most wanted Taliban figures in the aerial operations. The Air Force squadrons are currently engaged in the military operations along with Pakistan Army.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Shakil Shaikh. "Qamar Suleman appointed new air chief" The News, 9 March 2009
- ^ "2005 Independence Day Medal Recipients" Pakistan Times Online, 18 August 2005
- ^ "President appoints new Air Chief " Associated Press of Pakistan, 18 March 2009
- ^ "Names of four officials recommended for air chief" Daily Times, 20 February 2009
- ^ "PAF Public School Sargodha profile" Sargodhians website
- ^ a b "AVM Qamar Suleman made Air Marshal" Daily Times, 16 November 2007
- ^ a b "4 promoted as AVMs" Dawn, 10 October 2003
[edit] External links
- PAF's Chiefs of the Air Staff
- Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), ACM Rao Qamar Suleman
- Video: Air Marshal Suleman receiving a batch of four F-16s from United States on behalf of PAF
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed |
Chief of Air Staff 2009 – present |
Incumbent |
