Sreekumar Prabhakaran

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Air Marshal

| name = Sreekumar Prabhakaran

| honorific_suffix = AVSM, VM

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| image = File:Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran AVSM VM.jpg

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| birth_place = Kannur, Kerala

| allegiance = {{Country|India}}

| branch = {{Air force|India}}

| serviceyears = 22 December 1983 - 31 December 2022

| rank = 24px Air Marshal

| servicenumber = 17318

| unit = No. 45 Squadron

| commands = Western Air Command
Air Force Academy
Surya Kiran

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| awards = Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal

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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.{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1802096|title=AIR MARSHAL S PRABHAKARAN ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF'S WESTERN AIR COMMAND|publisher=PIB|date=2022-03-01}}{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=2 Nov 2021|title=Air Marshal Prabhakaran takes charge of IAF Academy {{!}} Hyderabad News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/air-marshal-prabhakaran-takes-charge-of-iaf-academy/articleshow/87473856.cms|access-date=2021-11-03|website=The Times of India|language=en}}

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.{{cite web|date=2019-11-06|title=Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM takes over as senior Air Staff Officer HQ SWAC|url=https://connectgujarat.com/air-marshal-sreekumar-prabhakaran-vm-takes-over-as-senior-air-staff-officer-hq-swac/|publisher=Connect Gujarat}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/17318/|title=Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|date=2021-08-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kannur-native-takes-over-as-chief-of-western-air-command/article65183347.ece|title=Kannur native takes over as chief of Western Air Command|work=The Hindu|date=2022-03-02}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/iaf-chief-rks-bhadauria-reviews-progress-of-air-power-projects-703272?infinitescroll=1|title=CAW gets a new commandant|publisher=Hans India|date=2014-12-03}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://connectgujarat.com/air-marshal-sandeep-singh-takes-over-the-command-as-aoc-in-c-swac/|title=Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes over the command as AOC-in-C SWAC|publisher=Connect Gujarat|date=2021-05-01|access-date=2021-05-26}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141202/nation-current-affairs/article/sreekumar-prabhakaran-head-college-air-warfare|title=Sreekumar Prabhakaran to head college of Air Warfare|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|date=2014-12-02}}

He served as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of South Western Air Command.{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Connect Gujarat|date=2019-11-06|title=Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM takes over as senior Air Staff Officer HQ SWAC|url=https://connectgujarat.com/air-marshal-sreekumar-prabhakaran-vm-takes-over-as-senior-air-staff-officer-hq-swac/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=connectgujarat.com|language=en}} He also served as Director General (Flight Inspection & Safety){{cite tweet|number=1191946643886788608|user=PIBAhmedabad|title=Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran VM took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer of Headquarter South Western Air Command on 04 Nov 2019.|date=2019-11-06}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=TC/|title=Training Command - BR |publisher=Bharat Rakshak|date=2021-08-01}}

He assumed the charge of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command on 1 March 2022 succeeding Air Marshal Amit Dev.{{cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-marshal-s-prabhakaran-to-take-over-as-new-western-air-commander20220225221918/|title=Air Marshal S Prabhakaran to take over as new Western Air Commander|publisher=ANI|date=2022-02-25}} He superannuated on 31 December 2022 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha.{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1887858|title=AIR MARSHAL PANKAJ MOHAN SINHA ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF'S WESTERN AIR COMMAND|publisher=PIB|date=2023-01-01}}

Honours and decorations

During his career, Sreekumar Prabhakaran has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2005 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 for his services to the nation.{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792624|title=President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day|publisher=PIB|date=2022-01-25}}

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|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

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style="text-align:center;"|Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

|style="text-align:center;"|Vayusena Medal