Air Commodore Satinder Singh Rehal VSM (retd)
Summary
- Senior Technical Management Professional with 34 years of experience in Aircraft Maintenance, Aviation MRO, Electronic Warfare, Engineering, Communication, IT, Defence Technical Asset, Fleet Management and Flight Operations of Indian Air Force.
- On-site work experience in these domains alongside major aircraft and avionics industries, like HAL and BEL.
- Possess hybrid thinking, can straddle multiple disciplines, and blend cross-functional knowledge into traditional operational skills with a digital mindset.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Command Signals Officer
Eastern Air Command
Shillong
07.2023 - 04.2025
- Responsible for extending and maintaining Communication and IT services in Eastern Air Command
- Undertook major projects including extension of Op-communication in valleys, conversion of Afcels from 3G to 4G/5G
- Drove IT and IW awareness
Air Officer Commanding
Base Repair Depot
New Delhi
05.2021 - 07.2023
- Commanded one of the biggest Systems Base Repair Depots of IAF
- Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul of Radar and Communication Equipment of the IAF.
- Undertook indigenization as part of self-reliance and oversaw Development, Testing, certification, Trials and analysis of downloaded data of Airborne and ground systems
- Was responsible for over 1000 personnel and their families
Chief of Planning and Production
Electronic Warfare BRD
Najafgarh
07.2017 - 04.2021
- Led tech teams for Planning of ROH of EW Equipment of IAF
- Closely associated with stake holders in the EW R & D cycle of requirements formulation, early design, development, testing, flight certification and flight evaluation until clearance for production in target airborne environment
- Managed production of the BRD which included Avionics EW programs (RWR + ASPJ + CMDS) in agile work environment with multiple competing priorities
- Collaborating and leading concurrent teams throughout the R&D cycle of EW systems and airborne systems.
Chief Engineering Officer (CEO)
Air Force Ambala
Ambala
05.2013 - 05.2015
- Led Tech teams to implement Aviation Solution for Aircraft Asset and Management, Digitized Work Flow solution for Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
- Tracking continuous monitoring of Life Limited parts, Hard Time, Soft Time, and On-Condition items
- Partnering across multiple Digital Engineering teams, supported 600+ monthly flight hours and sustained 60+ Aircraft assets with 1000+ components in each
- Managed logistics supply chain for on-site shortnotice flying operations achieving 10% cost reduction YoY
- Was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for this
- Exploited Data Engineering Solutions to arrive at Maintenance decisions of Flight Clearance for First and Second-Line servicing, Identifying and Predicting Aircraft Component Failures
- Generating Aircraft Stagger plan for servicing at all levels
- Predicting and prescribing buy cycle and automating short term and long-term procurement plan of aircraft spares using the real time aircraft component life data
Group Director (Avionics) - Project Monitoring Team LCA
ADA
Bengaluru
06.2011 - 05.2013
- As part of the Project Monitoring Team of IAF, exhibited strong Analytical, Problem-Solving, hands-on approach for progressing the LCA, IJT and Hawk aircraft programmes
- Interacted with agencies like CEMILAC, DGAQA, HAL and various DRDO labs for the design and production of LCA and IJT
- Oversaw the Hawk aircraft production
Joint Director (QAS)
Air HQ
Delhi
12.2009 - 06.2011
- Carried out Maintenance Inspection of different Stations
- Undertook Quality Assurance of Equipment Depots, Air Staff Parks
Senior Engineer
IAF
05.2004 - 12.2009
- Interacted and led technical and non-technical teams to sustain Administration, Maintenance and operations leading to Asset Maintenance and Availability, of Aircraft and Avionics
- In this journey, exhibited skills of self-motivation, problem solving and analytical qualities
- Planning and execution of First and Second line maintenance of the Jaguar and Bison aircraft, role equipment, ground equipment and mechanical transport at Ambala
- Maintenance of all electrical, radio navaids and telephone exchange and Implementation of the project- AFNET at Gorakhpur
- Human Resource Development towards managing engineering officers and over 300 air warriors in the Aircraft Tech and Signal Squadron for their professional and personal needs
Course Participant
Defence Services Staff College
Wellington
05.2003 - 04.2004
- M Sc in Defence and Strategic Studies
Senior Engineer and Instructor
IAF
01.2001 - 05.2003
- Ground level exposure handling Aircraft and Avionics Operations in an Airbase
- Trained AE officers in Jaguar aircraft and Weapons
- Human Resource Development towards managing engineering officers and over 200 air warriors in the squadron for their professional and personal needs
Electronics Trainer and Instructor
Air Force Technical College
Bangalore
08.1996 - 07.1999
- One of the Category A 'Aeronautical Engineers Instructors' in IAF
- As Program and Control Officer, planned and implemented BTP and WTP
- Implemented training course for new trainees
Engineering Officer
IAF
02.1992 - 04.1996
- First line maintenance of the Jaguar aircraft, role equipment, ground equipment, weapons and mechanical transport
Education
Post Graduate Diploma Management Program - Financial Management
AJNIFM
Faridabad06-2017
M Sc - Defence and Strategic Studies
Chennai Univ
04-2004
M Tech - Integrated Electronics and Circuits
IIT Delhi
01-2001
M Sc - Electronics
Delhi University
06-1990
Skills
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
- Aviation MRO
- Project Management
- Instructional Duties
- Strategic thinking
- Policy Development
- Business Development
- Brownfield Project Development and Management
- Value Engineering Collaboration
- Crisis and Change Management
- Counselor
Websites
Accomplishments
- Received Vishisht Seva Medal from H'ble President of India for exceptional service, 2016
- Selected for training and integration of Jaguar Aircraft Fire Control System to Israel, 2001
- Commendations from Chief of Air Staff and AOC-in-C in 1999 and 2006.
Career Timelines
- Command Signals Officer, Communication and IT Management, EAC, Shillong, 2023 - 2025
- AOC - Air Officer Commanding, Systems BRD (MRO), New Delhi, 2021 - 2023
- Chief of Planning and Production, ROH of EW Equipment in an EW MRO, Najafgarh, 2017 - 2021
- Participant in PGDM (Financial Management), AJNIFM, Faridabad, 2015 - 2017
- Chief Engineering Officer, Aircraft Fleet Operations, Ambala, 2013 - 2015
- Group Director, ADA, Bangalore, 2011 - 2013
- Joint Director Quality Assurance, IAF stores, Delhi, 2010 - 2011
- Senior Engineering Manager, IAF, Gorakhpur, 2007 - 2010
- Senior Engineering Manager, Indian Air Force, Ambala, 2001 -2007
- Underwent Masters in Technology, IIT Delhi, 1999 - 2000
- Senior Electronics Instructor, AFTC, Bangalore, 1996 - 1999
- Engineering Manager, Indian Air Force, Pune, 1992 - 1996
Hobbies and Interests
- Golf
- Swimming
- Reading
Timeline
Command Signals Officer
Eastern Air Command
07.2023 - 04.2025
Air Officer Commanding
Base Repair Depot
05.2021 - 07.2023
Chief of Planning and Production
Electronic Warfare BRD
07.2017 - 04.2021
Chief Engineering Officer (CEO)
Air Force Ambala
05.2013 - 05.2015
Group Director (Avionics) - Project Monitoring Team LCA
ADA
06.2011 - 05.2013
Joint Director (QAS)
Air HQ
12.2009 - 06.2011
Senior Engineer
IAF
05.2004 - 12.2009
Course Participant
Defence Services Staff College
05.2003 - 04.2004
Senior Engineer and Instructor
IAF
01.2001 - 05.2003
Electronics Trainer and Instructor
Air Force Technical College
08.1996 - 07.1999
Engineering Officer
IAF
02.1992 - 04.1996
Post Graduate Diploma Management Program - Financial Management
AJNIFM
M Sc - Defence and Strategic Studies
Chennai Univ
M Tech - Integrated Electronics and Circuits
IIT Delhi
M Sc - Electronics
Delhi University
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