Pune. As a unique initiative, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) entered into an academic collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a ‘Chair of Excellence’ at Department of Defence & Strategic Studies on February 29.

To pay tribute to the legend and commemorate the centenary birth year of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF), the IAF has named it as “Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Chair of Excellence”. The Chair will enable IAF officers to pursue Doctoral Research and higher studies in Defence & Strategic Studies and allied fields.

The chair will facilitate research and higher studies in the area of National Defence and allied fields of Air Force officers. The chair would facilitate inculcating a strategic outlook and building a pool of strategic thinkers.

The ceremony was presided over by Nitin Karmalkar, Vice Chancellor of SPPU. The Chief Guest of the function was Air Marshal Amit Dev AVSM, VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel, Indian Air Force and was attended by Air Vice Marshal LN Sharma AVSM, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) and other senior IAF and University officials.