Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed

Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service / branch	Pakistan Air Force (Pak/ 5700)
Years of service	1972 – 2009
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Sargodha Airbase Pakistan Air Force Academy DCAS (Administration) DCAS (Operations) Vice Chief of Air Staff Chief of Air Staff
Battles / wars	War in North-West Pakistan
Awards	Sitara-e-Basalat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)

Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed (born 1952) is a former chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force. He was replaced by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman as Chief of Air Staff on 18 March, 2009.

Initial training and education

Air Marshal Tanvir Ahmed got his initial education in Lahore, and did his high school from PAF Public School, Sargodha where he belonged to 15th entry (767 – Fury House). Thereafter, he joined PAF Academy, Risalpur in 1969 and was commissioned in Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot in 15 April, 1972 in the 53rd GD(P) Course.

The air marshal is a graduate of Turkish Air War College and National Defence College, Islamabad from where he did his masters in Strategic Studies.

Air Force career

Air Marshal Tanvir is a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and is a graduate of Combat Commanders School (CCS), PAF's equivalent to US Navy's TOPGUN. He has commanded a fighter squadron, the choicest F-16s 38th Tactical Flying Wing, PAF Base Sargodha and his alma mater the PAF Academy, Risalpur. He has flown the American F-86 Sabre and F-16 Falcon aircraft and other aircraft of Chinese and French origin in the PAF inventory.

The Air Marshal has also served in United Arab Emirates Air Force as a fighter instructor pilot.

Staff commands

In staff jobs, the air marshal has served as deputy director in Operations Branch, personal staff officer to two air chiefs, chief project director of F-16 Project, senior air staff officer at Northern Air Command, Peshawar, and director-general of Air Weapon Complex.

At senior staff assignments, the air marshal has the unique distinction of having served as deputy chief of air staff administration and then operations. Before taking over the PAF, he was the vice chief of air staff. He took over as VCAS on 13 October, 2003.

Tanvir M. Ahmed was promoted to air vice marshal in 2000 and to air marshal on 7 August, 2002.

Chief of Air Staff

He took over as the 18th Chief of Air Staff (CAS) on March 20, 2006, when the previous chief completed his three year term. Among his achievements are the successful induction and upgradation of ex-Libyan Mirage III's to make the 27th squadron of the PAF.

The air marshal has also introduced a new rank scheme for the Air Force officers, soon after taking over, which exactly mimics the Turkish Air Force rank insignia.

Criticism of US Drone Attacks inside Pakistan

Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad has expressed PAF capability to be able to stop US drone attack inside Pakistan as a violation of Pakistan sovereignty. However such military actions needs approval from the government, before PAF goes on to take such action. Saying at one point: "The decision as to whether or not we want to start a war [with the US] will have to be made by the nation and the government."

National Girl Child Day Photograph

Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad appeared in a full-page newspaper advertisement given by government of India's Ministry of Women and Child Development to mark the National Girl Child Day. Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath apologized on behalf of her ministry for publishing a photograph of a former Pakistan Air Force chief in a government advertisement and said an inquiry will bring out who was responsible for it.

External links

• PAF's Chief of Air Staffs