Colonel Balak Singh Verma, VSM, is an Army Air Defence officer, commissioned into a Schilka regiment in 1997 from IMA. Having served in North and North East during active insurgency operations, he was awarded with Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards in 2002 and 2004. The officer has served in United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in 2010, and was awarded with Force Commander's Commendation. Consequent to the command of elite KVADRAT air defence unit, he graduated the Higher Defence Management Course in 2018. The author received Scholar Warrior Award and the Distinguished Service commendation at ARTRAC in 2020. The officer has served in the Defence Space Agency for three years where his contribution in enhancing the combat potential of defence services was well acknowledged, and he was awarded with Vishisht Seva Medal on the eve of Republic Day, 2023. Col. Balak Sharma is presently associated with the Foundation as a Visiting Research Fellow.
