Sreekumar Prabhakaran Explained

Honorific Prefix:	Air Marshal
Sreekumar Prabhakaran
Honorific Suffix:	AVSM, VM
Birth Place:	Kannur, Kerala
Serviceyears:	22 December 1983 - 31 December 2022
Rank:	Air Marshal
Servicenumber:	17318
Unit:	No. 45 Squadron
Commands:	Western Air Command Air Force Academy Surya Kiran
Awards:	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 March 2022 and superannuated on 31 December 2022. Previously, he served as the Commandant of Air Force Academy, Dundigal.^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Sreekumar Prabhakaran is a native of Kannur, Kerala. He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadagwasla and National Defence College, New Delhi.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Career

Sreekumar Prabhakaran was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 22 December 1983 from Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He has flying experience of over 4,800 hours on a variety of fighter aircraft and has commanded the venerable Surya Kiran display team.^{[6] [4]}

Sreekumar Prabhakaran has commanded the Surya Kiran display team and under him the team has participated in over 150 accident free public display. The team was awarded the Chief of Air Staff's Unit Citation under his command.^{[6] [7]}

With a long career of 37 years. He has served as senior directing staff (Air) at DSSC, Wellington and has commanded two flying bases. He also served as the Defence Attache at Cairo, Egypt from 2007 to 2010.^{[3] [8]}

He served as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of South Western Air Command.^[9] He also served as Director General (Flight Inspection & Safety)^{[4] [10] [11]}

He assumed the charge of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command on 1 March 2022 succeeding Air Marshal Amit Dev.^[12] He superannuated on 31 December 2022 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha.^[13]

Honours and decorations

During his career, Sreekumar Prabhakaran has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2005 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.^[14]

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Vayusena Medal

Notes and References

1. AIR MARSHAL S PRABHAKARAN ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF’S WESTERN AIR COMMAND. PIB. 2022-03-01.
2. Web site: TNN. 2 Nov 2021. Air Marshal Prabhakaran takes charge of IAF Academy Hyderabad News - Times of India. 2021-11-03. The Times of India. en.
3. Web site: 2019-11-06. Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM takes over as senior Air Staff Officer HQ SWAC. Connect Gujarat.
4. Web site: Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran. Bharat Rakshak. 2021-08-01.
5. Web site: Kannur native takes over as chief of Western Air Command. The Hindu. 2022-03-02.
6. Web site: CAW gets a new commandant. Hans India. 2014-12-03.
7. Web site: Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes over the command as AOC-in-C SWAC. Connect Gujarat. 2021-05-01. 2021-05-26.
8. Web site: Sreekumar Prabhakaran to head college of Air Warfare. Deccan Chronicle. 2014-12-02.
9. Web site: Desk. Connect Gujarat. 2019-11-06. Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM takes over as senior Air Staff Officer HQ SWAC. 2021-11-03. connectgujarat.com. en.
10. 1191946643886788608. PIBAhmedabad. Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer of Headquarter South Western Air Command on 04 Nov 2019.. 2019-11-06.
11. Web site: Training Command - BR . Bharat Rakshak. 2021-08-01.
12. Web site: Air Marshal S Prabhakaran to take over as new Western Air Commander. ANI. 2022-02-25.
13. AIR MARSHAL PANKAJ MOHAN SINHA ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF’S WESTERN AIR COMMAND. PIB. 2023-01-01.
14. Web site: President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day. PIB. 2022-01-25.