Tahir Rafique Butt

Air chief marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, is Current chief of Pakistan Air Force. He was appointed Chief of Air Staff in place of Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman on 7 March 2012 by the President of Pakistan. He formally assumed the charge on 19 March 2012. Before being appointed chief he was serving as Vice Chief of Air Staff since 5 October 2010. His other appointments include Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters and commanding an operational base.

Career
Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt HI (M), T Bt was born in 1955 and received his early education at Government Central Model School Lower Mall, Lahore and PAF Public School, Sargodha. Subsequently, he joined Pakistan Air Force and graduated from PAF Academy, Risalpur in March, 1977. After doing his Fighter and Operational Conversion Courses, he has flown various types of fighters and training aircraft on PAF Inventory. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and also a Combat Commander on Fighter squadrons. He has commanded an elite Fighter Squadron, a Fighter Flying Wing and two PAF Bases during his career.

In staff jobs at Air Headquarters, the Air Chief Marshal has served as Deputy Director Plans, Director Flight Safety, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (P-O) in Personnel Branch and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training). In senior staff assignments, the Air Chief Marshal has the distinction of having served as Director General, National Accountability Bureau, (KPK); Commandant National Security College, NDU; Air Officer Commanding Sothern Air Command, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel) and Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He is a graduate of Staff College, Turkey and National Defence University, Islamabad from where he did his Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies.

Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt assumed the command of the PAF on March 19, 2012. He is married and blessed with three children. In recognition of his meritorious and exceptionally dedicated services, he has been decorated with the awards of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat.