Air Commodore Kamal Singh (Retired) AVSM

Air Commodore Kamal Singh (Retired) AVSM joined the corporate world in the year 2006, as Senior Vice-President, to lead the commercial functions of NIIT Ltd. after having worked in the Indian Air Force for over three decades. He has been a member of the Corporate Family Group of NIIT Group of companies and is presently the Advisor, Infra-Services and has been associated in the Master Planning as well as the building of NIIT University campus at Neemrana. He is an Electrical & Electronics engineer, with a specialisation in Aeronautical Engineering and has served across several geographies and assignments. He pioneered the induction of the first digital radar in the country, led a training contingent for six months at the erstwhile Soviet Union and later was assigned for half a decade at the Embassy of India Washington DC as a part of the Defence Attaché corp. This representational role at the Embassy, amongst other responsibilities, included providing nodal support to DRDO on the Transfer of Technology for India's LCA programme. His career in the IAF afforded him a Director of Engineering position in Air HQs, followed by Air Officer Commanding of an MRO Depot engaged in an overhaul of missiles and radar systems, of the Army and Air Force. The innovations applied in the management of this key establishment were recognised by an award of the Ati Vashisht Seva Medal to him by the President of India on 26 Jan 2004. He was finally the Commandant of Air Force Technical College, (AFTC) Bangalore, the alma mater of aeronautical engineers, for the armed services as well to some DPSUs and to more than a dozen friendly countries. He particularly succeeded here by getting Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to avail of residential programmes at AFTC, got a PG recognition from VTU Belgaum to AFTC curricula, and led a collaboration with IIT Madras to launch another of IIT Madras campus in Bangalore, in strategic alliance with AFTC. He is a progressive farmer, has been promoting wasteland development for over thirty years. The concept of doing unconventional farming on arid lands has been strengthened by him in his ancestral village region. He has helped land the UNDP IDA programmes in north India. The success of these 'tree-farms' or 'energy-farms' raised new hopes for many and he, in the year 1983, was the first farmer in north India to avail of a commercial bank loan for Energy-Farms. He believes, practices and preaches holistic living which includes 'wander-lust' to learn and discover something by being amidst nature and wilderness. He is an avid supporter of yoga, golf and music and indulges in and recommends adventure sports.