Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman
Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, ndc, afwc, psc is a former air officer who is the first operational three star rank officer and chief of air staff at Bangladesh Air Force.
Early life and education
Rahman, was born in 11 January 1955 in to a Muslim family in Gopalgonj. He joined the Bangladesh Air Force as a flight cadet on March 10, 1975 and was commissioned on December 29, 1976 as General Duties officer.Rahman obtained his command course from the Defence Service and Staff College in 1991 and air staff course from the Pakistan Air Force War College in 1992. He also graduated from National Defence College, Pakistan in 2001. Rahman later participated in the seminars for “Executive Course” at Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in “Military and Peace Keeping Operations in Accordance with Rule of Law" course in 2003 and 2006 respectively.
Military career
Rahman has flown MiG-21 and Chengdu J-7 and oversaw Fouga CM.170 Magister course in Bangladesh Air Force Academy.As wing commander, Rahman commanded two squadrons and one radar station. He was promoted to group captain in 1995 while commanding BAF Station Shamshernagar. Rahman also commanded three airbases and was promoted to air commodore in 2000. He was designated as assistant chief of air staff at Air Headquarters on 12 September 2005.
As Chief of Air Staff
Rahman was promoted from air commodore to air vice-marshal and appointed the Chief of Air Staff on 8 April 2007. He was soon ameliorated to Air Marshal on 24 May of the same year. As Chief of Staff he emphasized the operation of aircraft, and a modernization of the ageing Bangladesh air fleet. He is notable for initiating a modern Personnel Evaluation System in air force that resulted in revolutionary improvements in the aircraft flight output, research and development sectors.The participation of air force in United Nations peacekeeping missions had increased manifold during Rahman's tenure of office as quantities of air personnel have received many accolades from world leaders and United Nations. He retired on 12 June 2012 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Enamul Bari.