Tahir Rafique Butt

Biography

Tahir Rafique Butt was born in 1955 to a Kashmiri family, in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. He received his early education from the PAF Public School– a boarding school managed by the Air Force. After graduating from PAF Public School in 1973, he enrolled in Punjab University and attained BSc in Science in 1975. The same year, Butt's nomination was accepted at the Pakistan Air Force Academy after interviewed by the Inter-Services Selection Board.

During his mid-officer career, Rafique studied at the National University of Modern Languages before transferring to Quaid-e-Azam University in 1993–94. From 1994–95, he spent a semester at the Staff College in Turkey. From 2000 till 2001, Rafique continued to proceed his studies to National Defense University (NDU) where gained his MSc in Defence and Strategic studies from the National Defense University.

From December 2007 until July 2008, Rafique served as the Chief Instructor (CI) and commandant of the National Security College at the NDU.

Career in Air Force

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

From 1977-79, he served on various flight assignments and joined the Air Force Academy to instruct flying courses on Fixed-wing aircraft. Sq. Ldr, he served on the combat units and flew with the No. 9 Griffins and No. 20 Eagles from 1983–84. Butt also served as a military adviser to the Zimbabwean Air Force which he served from 1984 until 1986. 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.

From 1990–91, he commanded No. 19 Sherdils before being promoted to Gp. Capt to command the Rafiqui AFB.

Staff assignments

His staff assignment included the Deputy Director of Special Operations and Development at the AHQ from 1996–99. Previously, he served as Additional Director on Special Operations at the Chaklala AFB in 1990. From 2000–01, 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.

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

Chief of Air Staff

Prior to be appointed as chief of air staff, Rafique was serving as the VCAS at the AHQ.

At the time of retirement of ACM Rao Qamar Suleman, Rafique was a senior most air marshal; his appointment came directly based on seniority. After much speculation, his four-star appointment was confirmed in the media. Earlier reports indicated that five air marshals had been in the race to become the next air chief. 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; he assumed the charge of chief of air staff on 19 March 2012.