Norman Anil Kumar Browne

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC also known as "Charlie" Browne, is a former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force. He served in this position from 31 July 2011 to 31 Dec 2013. Browne served as India's Ambassador to Norway from August 2014 to April 2016.[1][2][3]

Air Chief Marshal N. A. K. Browne PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Birth name	Norman Anil Kumar Browne
Nickname(s)	'Charlie' Browne
Born	(1951-12-15) 15 December 1951
Allegiance	India
Indian Air Force
Years of service	1972-2013
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Service number	13129
Commands held	Western Air Command AFS Lohegaon 16 Squadron
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) Vayu Sena Medal (VM)
Spouse(s)	Kiran Browne
Children	Squadron Leader Omar Browne^(son) Alisha Browne^(daughter)

Personal life

Browne was brought up in Allahabad and did his early schooling from St. Joseph's College, Allahabad. He is married to Mrs. Kiran Browne. Together, they have a son, Omar, who serves as a fighter pilot in the IAF; and a daughter, Alisha, who is working with a multinational company.[4]

Military career

Browne is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy[5] and also trained with the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force on Jaguar aircraft before commanding a Jaguar Squadron. A graduate of Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, USA, he has held many appointments including Joint Director at Air War Strategy Cell at Air Headquarters, Chief Operations Officer and Air Officer Commanding of a Sukhoi Su-30 base, Air-I at Western Air Command and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters.[6] Browne was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 24 June 1972.

As a fighter pilot, he has logged over 3,100 hours flying Hunters, Jaguars, MiG 21s and Su-30MKIs,[7] and has served as an instructor at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

Air Chief Marshal Browne became Vice Chief of the Air Staff until 31 July 2011, when he replaced outgoing Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. Prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff in January 2011, he served as the AOC-in-C of Western Air Command.[8] Upon the retirement of Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, Browne became the new Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.[9] Browne was later replaced by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.[10]

Awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal		Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayusena Medal	General Service Medal 1947	Paschimi Star	Sangram Medal
Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

Diplomatic career

Browne served as India's Ambassador to Norway from 30 August 2014 to April 2016.[11][12]

References

1. Ambassador's Profile
2. Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) N.A.K. Browne appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Norway
3. "Debraj Pradhan appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Norway".
4. "Air Marshal N.A.K Browne To Be The New IAF Boss".
5. "vNorman Anil Kumar Browne". Retrieved 19 August 2013.
6. "Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne".
7. PTI (20 May 2011). "N.A.K. Browne next Air Chief". The Hindu (online newspaper). The Hindu group. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
8. "air marshal browne to be next IAF chief".
9. "Browne new Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee". Zeenews.com. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
10. "Air Marshal Arup Raha to replace Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne as the new Indian Air Force chief".
11. "Former IAF chief NAK Browne to be India's Ambassador to Norway". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
12. "Debraj Pradhan appointed as Ambassador of India to Norway".

Military offices
Preceded by Nirmal Kumar Verma	Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee September 2012 – December 2013	Succeeded by Bikram Singh
Preceded by Pradeep Vasant Naik	Chief of the Air Staff (India) July 2011 – December 2013	Succeeded by Arup Raha