Rao Qamar Suleman

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, NI(M), SBt (Urdu: راؤ قمر سلیمان; born 1954) is a former Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff who retired on 17 March 2012. Earlier he had replaced Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed on 18 March 2009.

He was appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari after consultation with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. In the process of ascension, the air chief superseded three senior air marshals: Shahid Lateef, the vice chief of air staff; Khalid Choudhry, chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex; and Hifazat Ullah Khan, deputy chief of air staff (personnel). Later however, Air Marshal Hifazat was appointed vice chief of air staff (VCAS) on 29 March 2009.

Air Force career
Rao Qamar Suleman, who comes from Lahore, was trained initially at PAF Public School, Sargodha where he belonged to the 17th entry (851 – Sabre House). Thereafter, he joined the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, in 1972 and was commissioned in the Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot on 1 June 1975, in the 59th GD(P) Course.

Suleman is a graduate of Flying Instructors' School, Combat Commanders' School, PAF Air War College and National Defence College, Islamabad from where he did his masters in Strategic Studies.

Command and staff appointments
Suleman is an accomplished fighter pilot with rich experience in fighter aircraft. He has been an instructor at prestigious Combat Commanders School. He has commanded an Elite Fighter Squadron, Wing and Base that includes No. 15 Squadron, No. 31 Wing, PAF Base Peshawar and Southern Air Command. He has also served in United Arab Emirates Air Force on deputation.

In staff jobs, he served as directing staff at PAF Air War College, where he later served as deputy director at Operations Branch; assistant chief of staff (plans), assistant chief or air staff (evaluation) and deputy inspector general of Pakistan Air Force at air headquarters. In senior staff appointments, Air Marshal has the distinction of having served as Director-general Air Force Strategic Command and Deputy chief of air staff (operations) at the air headquarters, Islamabad.

Suleman was promoted to air vice marshal on 9 October 2003 and to air marshal on 15 November 2007. In recognition of his meritorious and exceptionally dedicated services, he has been decorated with awards of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Basalat, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military). The last one of which was awarded to all the services chiefs.

Suleman is also the recipient of 'King Abdul Aziz Medal Class I' by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 'The Legion of Merit of Turkish Armed Forces' by Republic of Turkey.He was also received 'The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)' by United States Of America, 'Medal of Merit Santos-Dumont' by Federative Republic of Brazil. and 'Legion of Honor ' by French Republic.

Chief of Air Staff
Suleman, along with army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, led successful aerial operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA against Pakistani Taliban groups. Under ACM Suleman's umbrella, the PAF successfully achieved its objectives, mainly sabotaging the Taliban infrastructure, and killed the most wanted Taliban figures in the aerial operations. The Air Force squadrons are currently engaged in the military operations along with Pakistan Army. During this period, PAF also flew maximum, conducting major operational exercises with least accidents making 2010 an accident-free year for the first time in the history of PAF. Several new types of aircraft and capabilities were added to the PAF fleet and operationalized during his tenure. He is also credited for improving relations with Pakistani Army due to which PAF provided full support to Pak Army operations in FATA. He started JF 17 aircraft production at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra and raise two JF 17 aircraft Squadrons. He introduced JF 17 aircraft to the world by sending it to various air shows such as Farnborough Air Show, Zhuhai Air Show (China), Dubai Air Show and Turkish Air Force Centenniel Celebration.