Born on May 29, 1947, Air Marshal Major was commissioned into the Air Force on December 31, 1967 as a helicopter pilot. During his long and distinguished service spanning little over 39 years, he has worked in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He has the distinction of having 7765 hours of flying experience to his credit. The Air officer commanded a helicopter unit, which took part in world’s highest battlefield operations in Siachen Glacier and commanded MI – 17 squadron during IPKF operations in Sri Lanka, for which he was decorated with Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) during this tenure.
Air Marshal Major was bestowed Shaurya Chakra award for undertaking a very dangerous and exacting rescue mission on October 14, 1992 at Timber Trail in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, where he along with his crew, winched the eleven standard tourists out from the cable car, by hovering precariously close to the set of cables that ran above the cable car.
Besides being a Fellow of the National Defence College, New Delhi, and the Army War College, Mhow, he attended a variety of courses like Junior Commanders’ Course, Jungle and Snow Survival Course and Higher Command Course. He had the distinction of overseeing the tri-Service operations including the Tsunami operations during his tenure as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) at IDS Head Quarters. He was promoted as AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command in September 2005. The Indo-US Joint Air Exercises at Kalaikunda in 2005 were successfully conducted under his leadership in Eastern Air Command.
He was awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) in January 2006 and Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) in January 2002. He is one of the Honorary ADCs of the Supreme Commander.
Air Marshal Major is married to Mrs. Zareena and has one son and one daughter.
Official Press Release here