Flying Officer Amandeep Singh Gill, affectionately known as Rana, was a dedicated officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Commissioned on June 21, 1997, he served with 45 Squadron, also known as the Flying Daggers. Tragically, on February 10, 2001, he lost his life in a MiG-21 Bison crash in Bhuj, Gujarat, while on duty.

Colonel Paramjit Singh Gill (Retd) in memory of his only son, late Flying Officer Amandeep Singh Gill of 45 Sqn AF who died in an aircraft accident while on duty, established Flying Officer Amandeep Singh Gill Chair.  It was a tribute to all Indian air force officers who died in the IAF aircrafts during 1932-2012.

The Chair commenced in the year 2016.  The first Chair was allotted to Air Marshal Bharat Kumar, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) who researched on the topic ‘In Memoriam – The Fallen Air Warriors ‘.

Current Allottee:   Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd)

Topic: Wings of Support : Nine Decades of Action by Transport Fleet of IAF.

Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva AVSM (Retd)

Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and also officiated as Additional Secretary (Air) at DMA, MoD. He holds a Doctorate and a Masters in Management, Certified ‘A’ Project Manager by IPMA, Switzerland, is a Distinguished Fellow at i2p2M and Certified Management Instructor by AIMA. He was appointed Command of An-32 Sqn, AOC Chandigarh, CI at fixed wing Training Faculty, WAC Ops II A, Centre Director (Aviation) NTRO and SASO, HQ SAC. Other Joint appointments were that of Secy to Union War Book, RM’s Op Directive; Member Secy to Defence Acquisition Council; Chairmen of JOCAB, SCAPCC, Integrated Space Cell of Armed Forces, TET for BMD by DRDO; Co-Chair DIATF with US for development of niche capabilities; Officiated as Chairman of DCMG and also steered the projects for NFS and DCN.