President appoints new Air Chief of Pakistan Air Force

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday appointed Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman as the new Chief of Air Staff. The President took the decision in consultation with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told APP.

Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman will assume the command of Pakistan Air Force from the outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed who will retire on completion of his three‑year tenure on March 20.

Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations). Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed assumed the command of the PAF on 18 March, 2006 as 18th CAS. His recent significant contribution to the force was agreement between Pakistan Air Force and Chinese firm CATIC for the serial production of JF‑17 (Thunder) aircraft, under which 42 aircraft would be co‑ manufactured by China and Pakistan and would be inducted in the PAF’s fleet.

He had served as Deputy Director Operations Branch, Personal Staff Officer to two Air Chiefs, Chief Project Director of F‑16 Project, Senior Air Staff Officer at Northern Air Command, Peshawar and Director General, Air Weapons Complex, Wah.

At senior staff assignments, the Air Chief Marshal had the unique distinction of having served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Administration), Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations) and Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

The Air Chief Marshal had also served the UAE Air Force as a fighter instructor pilot. He is a graduate of Air War College, Turkey and National Defence College, Islamabad from where he did his M.Sc in Strategic Studies.

Posted in: Pakistan