Tahir Rafique Butt

Tahir Butt graduated from the Air Force Academy on 6 March 1977 as a General Duty Pilot (GDP). He secured his commission as P/Off. and served in Sq. No 1 Rehbar on course of a Fighter Conversion Unit (FCU).[7]

From 1977 to 1979, he served on various flight assignments and joined the Air Force Academy to instruct flying courses on fixed-wing aircraft.[7] Sq. Ldr, he served on the combat units and flew with the No. 9 Griffins and No. 20 Eagles from 1983 to 1984. Butt also served as a military adviser to the Zimbabwean Air Force which he served from 1984 until 1986.[7] Upon returning to Pakistan, Butt resumed the combat duty with the No. 18 War Hawks. In 1988, he was selected to join the Combat Commanders' School and graduated as a combat fighter in special operations. Eventually promoted as Wg Cdr, he commanded the No. 15 Cobras in 1990; during his service, he flew Mirage-III, F-7P, F-6S, T-37, SF-260, and MFI-17.[7]

From 1990 to 1991, he commanded No. 19 Sherdils before being promoted to Gp. Capt to command the Rafiqui AFB.[7]

His staff assignment included the deputy director of Special Operations and Development at the AHQ from 1996 to 1999.[7] Previously, he served as Additional Director on Special Operations at the Chaklala AFB in 1990.[7] From 2000 to 2001, Rafique served as base commander of the PAF Base Lower Topa. Upon promoting to Air Cdre in 2001, Rafique served as ACAS of the Personnel; he also served as base commander of M.M. Alam AFB in Mianwali in 2002.[7]

In 2005, his grade was promoted to two star rank and elevated as AVM in the Air Force.[7] From 2005 until 2007, he served in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and directed the KpK branch.[7] In 2009, he was promoted Air Marshal and became AOC of Southern Air Command which is headquartered in Karachi.[7]

Prior to being appointed as chief of air staff, Rafique was serving as the VCAS at the AHQ.[8]

At the time of retirement of ACM Rao Qamar Suleman, Rafique was most senior air marshal; his appointment came directly based on seniority.[9] After much speculation, his four-star appointment was confirmed in the media.[9] Earlier reports indicated that five air marshals had been in the race to become the next air chief.[10] However, upholding the principle of seniority, the government chose Butt, similar to when the government appointed the new chief of naval staff, last year. On 7 March 2012, Butt's grade was promoted to four-star rank and elevated as the ACM;[1] he assumed the charge of chief of air staff on 19 March 2012.[11]