Irfan Ahmad

Director, National Security, CASS

Air Marshal Irfan Ahmad, HI(M) (Retd), a highly decorated officer with 36 years in the Pakistan Air Force, brings vast expertise in operational command, strategic planning, instructional leadership, and policy development across key national and international assignments.

Education
He holds a Master’s degree in Security Studies from the US Naval Postgraduate School and an MPhil in Public Policy & Security Management. He is also an alumnus of the Air Force Command College in Beijing and the National Defence University, Islamabad.

 

Professional Experience

Commissioned from the Pakistan Air Force Academy in 1988, he has flown a wide range of fighter and trainer aircraft and is a graduate of the prestigious Combat Commanders’ School. He has also commanded a Fighter Squadron, a Flying Wing, two Operational Air Bases, and an Operational Air Command. His instructional assignments included training on the F-16 aircraft and teaching at premier military institutions. At Air Headquarters, Islamabad, he held several senior staff positions, including Director of Operations, Director General (Projects), Director General Welfare & Rehabilitation, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Organisation, Research & Development), and Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Projects).

His services have been recognised with some of the nation’s highest honours, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military), and the Imtiaz Sanad.

 

Areas of Interest / Expertise

His areas of expertise include air power, counter-insurgency, operational command, military strategy, and foreign and security policy. He maintains a particular interest in the evolving role of air power in regional and global security dynamics.

 

Academic Contributions

In addition to his military career, Air Marshal Ahmad has actively contributed to academic and policy debates. He has authored scholarly articles and regularly writes opinion pieces for professional journals and leading publications.

Recent Publications

 

Opinion Articles

  • Indian Air Force Quagmire, Pakistan Observer, August 13, 2025
  • Operation Sindhoor: Analysing Indian Emergency Defence Allocation, Pakistan Observer, July 23, 2025
  • Pakistan’s Indigenous Aerospace Industry, The Nation, June 19, 2025
  • NASTP: Opportunities for Chinese Aerospace Industry, Daily Times, May 6,  2025

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The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) was established in July 2021 to inform policymakers and the public about issues related to aerospace and security from an independent, non-partisan and future-centric analytical lens.

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