Balakrishnan Suresh

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command from 1 November 2019 following superannuation of Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, till the day of his retirement on 31 July 2020.^[3][4][5][6]

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Born	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.[1]
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	13 December 1980 - 31 July 2020
Rank	Air Marshal
Service number	16206[2]
Commands	Western Air Command Southern Air Command Air Officer in Charge of Personnel
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Early life and education

Air Marshal Suresh is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun, National Defence Academy, in Khadakwasla, Air Force Academy (India) in Dundigal and the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. He is a graduate of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment, and a post-graduate from Cranfield University in Shrivenham, United Kingdom.^[7][8][9]

Career

Air Marshal Suresh was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 13 December 1980. He commanded No. 2 Squadron 'The Winged Arrows' as a Wing Commander and Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) as a Group Captain. Suresh also commanded a strategic fighter base as an Air Commodore.^[10][9]

Air Marshal Suresh has held other positions including joint director and director for air staff inspection, Director Operations (Joint Planning), directing staff and commandant of TACDE, air assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), senior air staff officer at the Western Air Command and Air Officer-in-Chief Personnel at Air Headquarters.^[10][9][8]

He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command from 1 August 2018 taking over from Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, till 30 October 2019.^[11][12] From there he moved to New Delhi and on 01 November 2019 took over command of Western Air Command as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. He served as the AOC in C of the command until his superanuation on 31st July 2020.

Awards and medals

Air Marshal Suresh was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 2001 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal as a Group Captain in 2005.^[13] He is probably one of youngest officers to be awarded the presidential award of AVSM as a Group Captain. He was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019.^[2][10] He was appointed as Aide-de-camp of the president on 1 February 2019.^[3]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Vayu Sena Medal

Personal life

Air Marshal Suresh is married to Radha Suresh and they have a son and a daughter.^[10]

References

1. "Air Marshal hailing from Thiruvananthapuram takes over as AOP". NewIndianexpress. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
2. "411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
3. "Air Marshal B Suresh Assumes the Command of Western Air Command as AOC-In-C". 1 November 2019.
4. @DefencePROPalam (1 November 2019). "Air Marshal B Suresh took over as the AOC-in-C, Western Air Command today morning. The Air Marshal reviewed a ceremonial Guard of Honour & thereafter outlined his vision for the Western Air Command in consonance with the objectives of the IAF and the nation" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
5. "Air Marshal B Suresh superannuated after illustrious career spanning 40 years". 31 July 2020.
6. @DefencePROPalam (31 July 2020). "After a distinguished service spanning almost 40 years, Air Marshal B Suresh PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command superannuated from the IAF today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. "Air Marshal Suresh new IAF personnel chief". 31 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
8. "Air Marshal B Suresh Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer Western Air Command, IAF". 1 November 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
9. "Air Marshal B Suresh Assumes Appointment of AOP". PIB. GOI. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
10. "AIR MARSHAL B SURESH AVSM VM, AOC-IN-C, SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND IAF". Retrieved 3 October 2018.
11. "New Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief for SAC". The Hindu. 2 August 2018.
12. @DefencePROTvm (30 October 2019). "Air Mshl B Suresh AOC-in-C SAC will be assuming the charge of AOC-in-C Western Air Command on 01 Nov 19. He handed over the Command of SAC in Thiruvananthapuram & was presented with an impressive guard of honour and a formal send off was organised by all the personnel of SAC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. "Service Record for Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh 16206 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 15 May 2019.

Military offices
Preceded by Raghunath Nambiar	Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command 1 November 2019 - 31 July 2020	Succeeded by Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Preceded by Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria	Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command 1 August 2018 - 30 October 2019	Succeeded by Amit Tiwari