Norman Anil Kumar Browne

Personal life

Browne was brought up in Allahabad and did his early schooling from St. Joseph's College, Allahabad. He is married to Mrs. Kiran Browne. Together, they have a son, Omar, who serves as a fighter pilot in the IAF; and a daughter, Alisha, who is working with a multinational company.

Military career

Air Chief Marshal Browne is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and also trained with the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force 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 a Sukhoi Su-30 base, Air-I at Western Air Command and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters. 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, and has served as an instructor at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

Air Chief Marshal Browne became Vice Chief of the Air Staff until 31 July 2011, when he replaced outgoing Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. Prior to taking over as the Vice chief of the Air Staff in January 2011, he served as the AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, IAF's most vital operational command. Upon the retirement of Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, Browne became the new Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Charlie Browne was later replaced by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.

Diplomatic career

Air Chief Marshal Browne served as India's Ambassador to Norway from 30 August 2014 to April 2016.