LIEUTENANT GENERAL AJAY KUMAR SURI, AVSM
DIRECTOR GENERAL & COLONEL COMMANDANT ARMY AVIATION

Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Suri, AVSM, is an alumnus of Saint Edwards School, Shimla and National Defence Academy and was commissioned in Regiment of Artillery in June 1985. He was awarded the flying badge in June 1990 and was transferred to the permanent cadre of Army Aviation in February 1999.

The General Officer is a graduate of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, Higher Command Course, Mhow and National Defence College, New Delhi. He has held several key command, staff and instructional assignments during his illustrious career spanning over three and a half decades and has served in all theatres and actively participated in Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram. He has commanded a Reconnaissance & Observation Squadron affiliated to a Strike Corps where he was also instrumental in establishing the Basic Aviation Training School (BATS) for abinitio flying training for aspiring Army aviators. He also has the unique distinction of being entrusted with second command of an Aviation unit, wherein he raised an Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) Squadron equipped with the glass cockpit. Under his able guidance, the Squadron smoothly inducted and operationalised in Super High Altitude Area of Northern Command. The officer has also been Commandant of Combat Aviation Training School at Nasik. His significant staff and instructional appointments include Air Operations Officer in an United Nation mission in Africa, General Staff Officer (GSO-1) of Gradation and Evaluation Board, Colonel General Staff (Operations/Air), Brigadier Aviation in active Commands and Senior Aviation Instructor in Combat Army Aviation Training School, Nasik.

Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Suri is an accomplished aviator and a flying instructor with more than 6000 hours of service flying to his credit. He has the singular distinction of having flown all aircrafts in inventory of Indian Army viz Cheetah, Chetak, ALH and ALH (WSI) in all types of terrain. He is also the first Army Aviator to be awarded Senior Aviation Instructor Class-I (A2 Instructor) and Master Aviation Instructor (MAI) status and has been awarded the Advanced Flight Safety Badge and Master Green Card. The General Officer has been commended twice by the Chief of Army Staff and twice by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief ARTRAC for his yeoman service to the organisation.

Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Suri assumed the appointment of Director General & Colonel Commandant of Army Aviation on 21 Jun 2021. Prior to assuming present appointment he was the Additional Director General and Colonel Commandant Army Aviation. The General Officer is the 5th Director General and 13th Colonel Commandant of Army Aviation Corps.