Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed


Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed is a retired air officer of the Pakistan Air Force who was the Chief of the Air Staff from 2006 to 2009. He was succeeded by Rao Qamar Suleman on 18 March 2009.

Initial training and education

Tanvir Ahmed got his initial education in Lahore, and did his high school from PAF Public School Sargodha where he belonged to 15th entry. Thereafter, he joined PAF Academy, Risalpur in 1969 and was commissioned in Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot on 15 April 1972 in the 53rd GD Course.

Air Force career

Air Marshal Tanvir is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a graduate of Combat Commanders School. He has commanded the CCS Mirage Squadron, No. 38 Wing, PAF Base Sargodha and his alma mater the PAF Academy, Risalpur. He has flown the American F-86 Sabre and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and other aircraft of Chinese and French origin in the PAF inventory.
The Air Marshal has also served in United Arab Emirates Air Force as a fighter instructor pilot.

Staff commands

At senior staff assignments, Ahmed served as deputy chief of air staff administration and then operations. Before taking over the PAF, he was the vice chief of air staff. He took over as VCAS on 13 October 2003.
Tanvir M. Ahmed was promoted to air vice marshal in January 2000 and to air marshal on 7 August 2002.

Chief of Air Staff

He took over as the 11th Chief of Air Staff on 20 March 2006, when the previous chief completed his three-year term. Among his achievements are the successful induction and upgradation of ex-Libyan Mirage III's to make the 27th squadron of the PAF.
The air marshal has also introduced a new rank scheme for the Air Force officers, soon after taking over, which exactly mimics the Turkish Air Force rank insignia.

Criticism of US drone attacks inside Pakistan

Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad has expressed PAF capability to be able to stop US drone attacks inside Pakistan as a violation of Pakistan sovereignty. However, such military actions need approval from the government, before PAF goes on to take such action. Saying at one point: "The decision as to whether or not we want to start a war will have to be made by the nation and the government."

Demonstration of strategic acumen in estate planning

A hallmark of his tenure as Chief of Air Staff was his involvement in the planning and execution of the Al-Hamra Avenue housing society under the aegis of the Shaheen Foundation. He took a personal interest in the sizing and distribution of plots followed up by meticulous and detailed discussions with the builders.

National Girl Child Day photograph

Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad appeared in a full-page newspaper advertisement taken out by the government of India's Ministry of Women and Child Development to mark the National Girl Child Day. Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development, apologised on behalf of her ministry for publishing a photograph of a former Pakistan Air Force chief in a government advertisement and said an inquiry will ascertain who was responsible for it. Ahmed, upon learning of the publication, "..wasn't aware about this an innocent mistake."