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AIR CHIEF MARSHAL TAHIR RAFIQUE BUTT TAKES OVER THE COMMAND OF PAKISTAN AIR FORCE ISLAMABAD 19 MARCH, 2012:- Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt took over the command of Pakistan Air Force from Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force today. The Change of Command Ceremony was held at Air Headquarters, Islamabad with profound military honour. Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt was designated as new Chief of the Air Staff by the President of Pakistan on 7th March, 2012. Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force handed over the “Command Sword” to Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt and also invested the Air Chief Marshal ranks. Born in 1955, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt received his early education at PAF Public School, Sargodha. Subsequently, he joined Pakistan Air Force and graduated from PAF Academy, Risalpur in March, 1977. After doing his Fighter and Operational Conversion Courses, he has flown various types of fighters and training aircraft on PAF Inventory. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and also a Combat Commander on Fighters. He has commanded an elite Fighter Squadron, a Fighter Flying Wing and two PAF Bases. In staff jobs at Air Headquarters, the Air Chief Marshal has served as Deputy Director Plans, Director Flight Safety, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (P-O) in Personnel Branch and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training). In senior staff assignments, the Air Marshal has the distinction of having served as Director General National Accountability Bureau (KPK) Commandant National Security College, NDU, Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel) and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force. He is a graduate of Staff College, Turkey and National Defence University, Islamabad from where he did his M Sc in Defence and Strategic Studies. Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who is the 20th Air Chief of Pakistan Air Force, is married and blessed with three children. In recognition of his meritorious and exceptionally dedicated services, he has been decorated with the awards of Hilal-i- Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat. .