Fali Homi Major
,_in_Hyderabad_on_May_21,_2008.jpg) | |
| 21st Chief of the Air Staff (India) | |
| In office 31 March 2007 – 31 May 2009 | |
| President | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Shashindra Pal Tyagi |
| Succeeded by | Pradeep Vasant Naik |
| 26th Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command | |
| In office 5 September 2005 – 31 March 2007 | |
| President | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Avinash Deodata Joshi |
| Succeeded by | Pranab Kumar Barbora |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 May 1947 |
| Battles/wars | Siachen conflict Operation Pawan Kargil War |
| Awards |
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| Later work(s) |
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AVSM, SC, VM, ADC served as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, taking office on 1 April 2007, and becoming the first helicopter pilot in the service to be promoted to the office of Chief.[1] He retired on 31 May 2009, and was succeeded in office by Air Chief Marshal P V Naik.[2]
Air Force Career
Major was commissioned into the
Kargil conflict.[4]
Credits and awards
Major has the distinction of having 7,765 hours flying experience and is the most decorated
French Air Force. Major was awarded the ‘Param Vishisht Seva Medal’ by the President of India on 26 Jan 2006.[6]
Major commanded a helicopter unit, which took part in operations in
Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry).[7]
While serving as a Group Captain, Major was awarded Shaurya Chakra for undertaking a very dangerous and exacting rescue mission on 14 October 1992 at Timber Trail in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, where he along with his crew, winched eleven stranded tourists out from a cable car, by hovering precariously close to the set of cables that ran above it.[5]
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| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | ||
| Shaurya Chakra | Vayu Sena Medal | General Service Medal | Samanya Seva Medal |
| Poorvi Star | Paschimi Star | Siachen Glacier Medal | Operation Vijay Star |
| Special Service Medal | Sangram Medal | Operation Vijay Medal | Operation Parakram Medal |
| Sainya Seva Medal | High Altitude Medal | Videsh Seva Medal | 50th Anniversary Independence Medal |
| 25th Anniversary Independence Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal
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20 Years Long Service Medal
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9 Years Long Service Medal
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Career after the Air Force
Major served as an Independent Director of
Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited since 2016.[9]
Personal life
Major was born on 29 May 1947 in
Parsi community and is an avid golfer and a cricket fan.[10]
References
- ^ "Air Marshal Fali Homi Major is New IAF Chief". 31 January 2007.
- ^ "P V Naik takes over as IAF chief". NDTV.com.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major".
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal FH Major PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC". Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Air Chief Marshal FH Major takes over as The Chief of Air Staff". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC Chief of Air Staff, 31 March 2007 - 31 May 2009".
- ^ "Air Marshal Fali H Major named next chief". The Times of India. 30 January 2007.
- ^ "Executive Profile Fali Homi Major (Retd.)". Bloomberg News.
- ^ "Board of Directors".
- ^ a b "FH MAJOR PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC". indianairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force.
| Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force (1947–1948) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force (1948–1950) | ||
| Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force (1950–1955) | ||
| Chief of the Air Staff (1955–present) |
| |
(**Seconded from the Royal Air Force) | ||