Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, NI(M), S Bt

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, NI(M), S Bt

Born in 1954, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman received his early education at PAF Public School, Sargodha.  Subsequently, he joined Pakistan Air Force and graduated from PAF Academy, Risalpur in June 1975.  After doing his Fighter and Operational Conversion Courses, he initially flew the American F-86 (Sabre), and later all types of Chinese and French fighter aircraft on PAF's inventory.  He is an accomplished fighter pilot with rich experience on Mirages.  He is a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and has been an instructor at the prestigious Combat Commanders’ School.  He commanded an elite Fighter Squadron, a Fighter Flying Wing and a Fighter Base.

In staff jobs at Air Headquarters, the Air Chief Marshal has served as Deputy Director in Operations Branch, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) at the Inspector General’s Branch.  In senior staff assignments, the Air Chief Marshal has the distinction of having served as Commandant PAF Air War College, Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command, Director General, Air Force Strategic Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations).  The Air Chief Marshal has also served in the UAE Air Force as an instructor pilot in a Fighter Squadron.  He is a graduate of the PAF Air War College, Faisal and National Defence University, Islamabad from where he did his M Sc in Defence and Strategic Studies.

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman assumed the command of the PAF on 19 March, 2009. He is married and blessed with three children. In recognition of his meritorious and exceptionally dedicated services, he has been decorated with the awards of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Basalat and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military). He is also the recipient of 'King Abdul Aziz Medal Class I', by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 'The Legion of Merit of Turkish Armed Forces' by the Republic of Turkey and 'The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) by United States of America.

EDUCATION

1999 Master's degree in Defence and Strategic Studies, NDC / Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad

1995 Master's degree in Strategic Studies, Air War College PAF

1993 Bachelor's degree in War Studies, ISS-III / Karachi University

1975 Bachelor's degree in science, PAF Academy Risalpur

1972 FSc, PAF College Sargodha

1970 Matriculation, PAF College Sargodha

ASSIGNMENTS

March 2009 - Present, Chief of the Air Staff

November 2007 - March 2009 Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations)

July 2007 - November 2007 Director General, Air Force Strategic Command, PAF

October 2005 - July 2007, Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command

October 2003 - October 2005, Commandant Air War College, PAF

October 2002 - October 2003, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Evaluation)

July 2002 - October 2002, Deputy Inspector General, PAF

January 2001 - July 2002, Base Commander PAF Base Peshawar

July 1999 - January 2001, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) AHQ Chaklala

July 1998 - July 1999, Student NDC Islamabad

July 1996 - July 1998, DS(Tut) Air War College, PAF

June 1995 - July 1996, Officer Commanding No 31 Flying Wing PAF Base Samungli

July 1994 - June 1995, Student, Air War College, PAF

December 1993 - July 1994, DD (Ops), AHQ Chaklala

January 1992 - December 1993, Officer Commanding No 15 Sqn PAF Base Minhas

December 1988 - January 1992, Abu Dhabi, Deputation Abroad

March 1987 - December 1988, QFI Instructor CCS PAF Base Mushaf

August 1986 - March 1987, Student, CCS PAF Base Mushaf

March 1985 - August 1986, Flight Commander No 18 OCU PAF Base Rafiqui

January 1984 - March 1985, Officer Commanding No 247 Sqn PAF Base Korangi Creek

July 1983 - January 1984, Squadron Pilot No 18 OCU PAF Base Rafiqui

January 1983 - July 1983, QFI Instructor No 9 Sqn PAF Base Masroor

January 1981 - January 1983, Squadron Pilot No 25 Sqn PAF Base Mushaf

October 1978 - January 1981, QFI Instructor No 1 FCU PAF Base Mianwali

February 1978 - September 1978, Squadron Pilot No 14 Sqn PAF Base Mianwali

October 1977 - February 1978, 57th FIS Course PAF Academy Risalpur

March 1977 - October 1977, Squadron Pilot No 11 Sqn PAF Base Rafiqui

September 1976 - March 1977, On Course No 14 Sqn

March 1976 - September 1976, On Course No 26 Sqn

February 1976, On Course No 2 Sqn

July 1975 - February 1976, On Course Turkey

June 1975 - July 1975, On Course No 2 Sqn

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight Hours: Around 3400

Aircraft Flown: F-16, MIR-III, MIR-V, MIR-III DP, F-7P, A-5 III, F-6 / MIG-19, FT-5, U-MIG, F-86F, HAWK, T-33, T-37, MUSHAK (MF-17) and T6G / HARVARD

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military)

Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military)

Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military)

Sitara-i-Basalat

Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military)

King Abdul Aziz Medal Class I ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia )

Legion of Merit of Turkish Armed Forces

Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) by the United States of America

Professional Excellence Badge

Chief of the Air Staff Commendation Certificate

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Air Chief Marshal March 19 , 2009

Air Marshal November 15 , 2007

Air Vice Marshal October 9 , 2003

Air Commodore July 6 , 1998

Group Captain December 8 , 1994

Wing Commander January 11 , 1992

Squadron Leader April 15, 1982

Flight Lieutenant July 1 , 1978

Flying Officer June 1, 1976

Pilot Officer June 1, 1975