Bot at 10:33, 23 December 2022

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{{short description|Former Chief of the Indian Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
|name=F H Major
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishist Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Shaurya Chakra|SC]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]
|image= The Air Chief Marshal FH Major addressing the inaugural ceremony of UN conceptual exercise ‘AMAN SENA’, at College of Defence Management (CDM), in Hyderabad on May 21, 2008.jpg
|caption=
|birth_date= {{bda|1947|May|29|df=n}}
|death_date=
|birth_place= [[Secunderabad]], [[Hyderabad State]], [[British Raj]] (now in [[Telangana]], India)
|death_place=
|nickname=
| spouse = Mrs. Zareen Major
| children = 2
| office = 21st [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)]]
| term_start = 31 March 2007
| term_end = 31 May 2009
| president = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] [[Pratibha Patil]]
| primeminister = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor = [[Shashindra Pal Tyagi]]
| successor = [[Pradeep Vasant Naik]]
| office1 = 26th [[Air officer commanding|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]], [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]
| term_start1 = 5 September 2005
| term_end1 = 31 March 2007
| president1 = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
| primeminister1 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor1 = Avinash Deodata Joshi
| successor1 = Pranab Kumar Barbora
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| serviceyears = 31 December 1967 – 31 May 2009
| rank = [[File: Indian IAF OF-9.svg|30px]] [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
|unit=
| commands=[[Eastern Air Command (India)| Eastern Air Command]] [[Sarsawa Air Force Station]] [[No. 129 Helicopter Unit, IAF|129 HU]] [[No. 127 Helicopter Unit IAF|127 HU]]
| battles= [[Siachen conflict]] [[Operation Pawan]] [[Kargil War]]
| military_blank1 = Awards
| military_data1 = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|23px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|23px]] [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Shaurya_Chakra_ribbon.svg|23px]] [[Shaurya Chakra]]
* [[File:Vayusena_Medal_ribbon.svg|23px]] [[Vayusena Medal|Vayu Sena Medal]]
}}
| military_blank2 = Later work(s)
| military_data2 = {{plainlist|
* ''Member'', [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Advisory Board]]
* ''Independent Director'', [[Air India]]
* ''Independent Director'', [[Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited|Reliance Defence & Engineering Limited]]
}}
}}

[[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] '''Fali Homi Major''', [[Param Vishist Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishist Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Shaurya Chakra|SC]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]] served as the 21st [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] of the [[Indian Air Force]], taking office on 1 April 2007, and becoming the first helicopter pilot in the service to be promoted to the office of Chief.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Marshal Fali Homi Major is New IAF Chief|date=31 January 2007 |url=https://parsikhabar.net/history/air-marshal-fali-homi-major-is-new-iaf-chief/585/}}</ref> He retired on 31 May 2009, and was succeeded in office by Air Chief Marshal [[Pradeep Vasant Naik|P V Naik]].<ref>{{cite news|title=P V Naik takes over as IAF chief|newspaper=NDTV.com |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/p-v-naik-takes-over-as-iaf-chief-395234}}</ref>

==Air Force Career==
Major was commissioned into the [[Indian Air Force]] on 31 December 1967 as a helicopter pilot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/11442}}</ref> During his long and distinguished service spanning little over 39 years, he worked in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. Besides being a Fellow of the [[National Defence College, India|National Defence College]], New Delhi, and the [[Army War College, Mhow]], he attended a variety of courses like Junior Commanders' Course, Jungle and Snow Survival Course and Higher Command Courses. He was appointed Joint Director (Helicopter Operations) and Director Operations (Transport & Helicopter). In 1999, Major took over as the Air Officer Commanding [[Leh]] ([[Ladakh]]), in the aftermath of the [[Kargil conflict]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Chief Marshal FH Major PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief.php?pg_id=&ch=21|access-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815135705/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief.php?pg_id=&ch=21|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Credits and awards==
Major has the distinction of having 7,765 hours flying experience.<ref name=PiB>{{cite news|title=Air Chief Marshal FH Major takes over as The Chief of Air Staff.|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=26545|accessdate=28 July 2012|newspaper=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|date=31 March 2007}}</ref> For his leadership, successful accomplishment of tasks and distinguished service of a very high order, he was awarded the ‘[[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]]’ in Jan 2002. Major was promoted to the rank of [[Air Vice Marshal]] in Feb 2002 and appointed as [[Assistant Chief of the Air Staff]] (Personnel Airmen & Civilians) at Air Headquarters. On promotion to the rank of [[Air Marshal]] in Jan 2004 Major moved to HQ Integrated Defence Staff as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and directed the relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations of the Indian Armed Forces, in India and abroad, in the aftermath of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|Tsunami]]. On 5 September 2005, he was appointed as the [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]], [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]. That tenure saw the successful conduct of three major international air exercises with the [[United States Air Force]], [[Republic of Singapore Air Force]] and the [[French Air Force]]. Major was awarded the ‘[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]’ by the [[President of India]] on 26 Jan 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC Chief of Air Staff, 31 March 2007 - 31 May 2009|url=http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Personnel/Chiefs/271-FH-Major.html}}</ref>

Major commanded a helicopter unit, which took part in operations in [[Siachen]], the world's highest battlefield and commanded a [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17]] squadron during the [[IPKF]] operations in [[Sri Lanka]], for which he was decorated with the [[Vayusena Medal|Vayu Sena Medal]] (Gallantry).<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Marshal Fali H Major named next chief|website=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-Marshal-Fali-H-Major-named-next-chief/articleshow/1538101.cms}}</ref>

While serving as a [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]], Major was awarded [[Shaurya Chakra]] for undertaking a very dangerous and exacting rescue mission on 14 October 1992 at Timber Trail in [[Parwanoo]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], where he along with his crew, winched eleven stranded tourists out from a cable car, by hovering precariously close to the set of cables that ran above it.<ref name=PiB/>

{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
|
|[[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|
|-
|[[File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:India General Service Medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|106px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|106px]]
|-
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|106px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" class="wikitable"
|-
|
|align="center" | [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|
|-
|align="center" | [[Shaurya Chakra]]
|align="center" | [[Vayu Sena Medal]]
|align="center" | [[General Service Medal 1947|General Service Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|-
|align="center" | [[Poorvi Star Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Pashchimi Star Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|Siachen Glacier Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Operation Vijay Star Medal]]
|-
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|Special Service Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|Sangram Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Operation Vijay Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|-
|align="center" | [[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|High Altitude Service Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Videsh Seva Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|50th Anniversary Independence Medal]]
|-
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|25th Anniversary Independence Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|align="center" | [[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

==Career after the Air Force==
Major served as an Independent Director of [[Air India]]. He was also a member of the National Security Advisory Board to the Government of India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive Profile Fali Homi Major (Retd.)| website=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=99395279&privcapId=60939265}}</ref> Major has served as an Independent Director at [[Reliance_Defence_and_Engineering|Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited]] since 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=http://reliancedefence.co/board_of_directors.html}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Major was born on 29 May 1947 in [[Secunderabad]], Nizam's Dominion. He is an alumnus of Wesley High School, Secunderabad. Air Chief Marshal F H Major is married to Mrs Zareen Major and has one son (Zubin Major) and one daughter (Tooshna Major).<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/fh-major-pvsm-avsm-sc-vm-adc |website=indianairforce.nic.in|title=FH MAJOR PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC |publisher=Indian Air Force}}</ref> Major belongs to [[Parsi]] community and is an avid golfer and a cricket fan.<ref name="auto"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Shashindra Pal Tyagi|SP Tyagi]]
}}
{{s-ttl
|title=[[Chief of the Air Staff (India)]]
| years = 31 March 2007 – 31 May 2009
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Pradeep Vasant Naik|P V Naik]]
}}
{{end}}
{{Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major, Fali Homi}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Secunderabad]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Air Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Parsi people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shaurya Chakra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]]
[[Category:Army War College, Mhow alumni]]

Fali Homi Major - Revision history

Bot at 10:33, 23 December 2022