Balakrishnan Suresh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Service years | 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 |
Air MarshalBalakrishnan SureshPVSM,AVSM,VM,ADC is a retired officer of theIndian Air Force. He served asAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C),Western Air Command from 1 November 2019 following superannuation of Air MarshalRaghunath Nambiar, till the day of his retirement on 31 July 2020.[3][4][5][6]
Air Marshal Suresh is an alumnus of theRashtriya Indian Military College inDehradun,National Defence Academy, in Khadakwasla,Air Force Academy (India) in Dundigal and theDefence Services Staff College inWellington. He is a graduate of theTactics and Air Combat Development Establishment, and a post-graduate fromCranfield University inShrivenham, United Kingdom.[7][8][9]
Air Marshal Suresh was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 13 December 1980. He commandedNo. 2 Squadron 'The Winged Arrows' as aWing Commander andTactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) as aGroup Captain. Suresh also commanded a strategic fighter base as anAir 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 theChief of the Air Staff, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), senior air staff officer at theWestern Air Command and Air Officer-in-Chief Personnel at Air Headquarters.[10][9][8]
He served asAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Southern Air Command from 1 August 2018 taking over fromRakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, till 30 October 2019.[11][12] From there he moved to New Delhi and on 01 November 2019 took over command ofWestern Air Command as itsAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief. He served as the AOC in C of the command until his superannuation on 31st July 2020.
Air Marshal Suresh was awardedVayu Sena Medal in 2001 andAti Vishisht Seva Medal as aGroup Captain in 2005.[13] He is probably one of youngest officers to be awarded the presidential award ofAVSM as aGroup Captain. He was awardedParam Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019.[2][10] He was appointed asAide-de-camp of the president on 1 February 2019.[3]
| | |
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
Air Marshal Suresh is married to Radha Suresh and they have a son and a daughter.[10]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Western Air Command 1 November 2019 - 31 July 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Southern Air Command 1 August 2018 - 30 October 2019 | Succeeded by |