Nirmal Chandra Suri

Air Chief Marshal Nirmal Chandra Suri, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC (born 26 July 1933) was the 15th Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, from 31 July 1991 to 31 July 1993.[1][2] He is an alumnus of the famous Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun. He was a part of the First course of the Joint Services Wing,[3] the present-day National Defence Academy, Pune. He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on15 March 1952.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Suri was selected to lead the detachment from No.20 Hawker Hunter Squadron and he flew several sorties during the war. In 1969, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his contributions and devotion to service.

Air Chief Marshal Nirmal Chandra Suri PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
15th Chief of Air Staff
In office 31 July 1991 – 31 July 1993
President	Ramaswamy Venkataraman
Prime Minister	P. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded by	Surinder Mehra
Succeeded by	S.K.Kaul
Personal details
Born	(1933-07-26) 26 July 1933
Alma mater	St Xavier's School, Calcutta Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun Allahabad University Intercultural University Netherlands
Awards	Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) Vayu Sena Medal (VM)
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1952-1993
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Chief of the Air Staff (India) (1991–1993) Central Air Command No.20 Squadron No.7 Squadron
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

During the 1971 War, Suri took over the Number 7 Hunter Squadron and he flew several sorties during this war as well. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal or AVSM in 1982.

He became the Chief of Air Staff on 1 August 1991 and was instrumental in various initiatives – including the induction of women officers in the IAF first as ground duty officers and later as pilots. He has always been a passionate flyer and he is not known to have passed on any opportunity to fly. Air Chief Marshal N. C. Suri retired from service on 31 July 1993 and was succeeded by S. K. Kaul.

References

1. "NIRMAL CHANDRA SURI PVSM AVSM VM ADC CAS". Indian Air Force official website.
2. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Personnel/Chiefs/265-NC-Suri.html
3. Page 50, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997, Allied Publishers, ISBN 81-7023-649-5

Military offices
Preceded by Surinder Kumar Mehra	Chief of the Air Staff (India) 1991–1993	Succeeded by S.K. Kaul