Norman Anil Kumar Browne

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne PVSM, AVSM, VM
Born	15 December 1951 Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) Vayu Sena Medal (VM) Honorary Aides De Camp to the President of India.

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, also known as "Charlie" Browne, was Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 31 July 2011 to 31 Dec 2013. He was Vice Chief of the Air Staff until 31 July 2011 when he replaced outgoing Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. Charlie Browne was replaced by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.

Career

Air Chief Marshal Browne is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy^[1] and also trained with the Royal Air Force, in the United Kingdom, on Jaguar aircraft before commanding a Jaguar Squadron. A graduate of Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, USA, he has held many appointments including Joint Director at Air War Strategy Cell at Air Headquarters, Chief Operations Officer and Air Officer Commanding of an Sukhoi Su-30 base, Air-I at Western Air Command and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters.^[2] Browne was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on June 24, 1972.

As a fighter pilot, he has logged over 3,100 hours flying Hunters, Jaguars, MiG 21s and Su-30MKIs,^[3] and has served as an instructor at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

Before taking over as the Vice chief of the Air Staff in January 2011, he was the AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, IAF's most vital operational command.^[4] He became the twentieth CAS of the IAF.

Upon the retirement of Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, Browne became the new Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.^[5]

Personal life

Browne is married to Mrs Kiran Browne, and they have a son, Omar, a fighter pilot in the IAF; and a daughter Alisha, who is working with a multinational company.^[6]

Post Retirement Work

Since 30 August 2014, Air Chief Marshal Browne (Retd) is current Ambassador of India to Norway.^[7][8]

Awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Vayu Sena Medal	Paschimi Star Medal
Sangram Medal	Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	Videsh Seva Medal
50th Anniversary Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

References

1. "vNorman Anil Kumar Browne". Retrieved August 19, 2013.
2. "Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne".
3. PTI (20 May 2011). "N.A.K. Browne next Air Chief". The Hindu (online newspaper). The Hindu group. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
4. "air marshal browne to be next IAF chief".
5. "Browne new Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee". Zeenews.com. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
6. "Air Marshal N.A.K Browne To Be The New IAF Boss".
7. Ambassador's Profile
8. Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) N.A.K. Browne appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Norway