Career
He was succeeded by Rao Qamar Suleman on 18 March 2009. Tanvir Ahmed got his initial education in Lahore, and did his high school from PAF Public School Sargodha where he belonged to 15th entry (767 – Fury House). Thereafter, he joined PAF Academy, Risalpur in 1969 and was commissioned in Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot on 15 April 1972 in the 53rd GD(P) Course.
The air marshal is a graduate of Turkish Air War College and National Defence College, Islamabad from where he did his masters in Strategic Studies.
Air Marshal Tanvir is a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and a graduate of Combat Commanders School (CCS). He has commanded the CCS Mirage Squadron, Number.
38 Wing, PAF Base Sargodha and his alma mater the PAF Academy, Risalpur. He has flown the American F-86 Sabre and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and other aircraft of Chinese and French origin in the PAF inventory.
The Air Marshal has also served in United Arab Emirates Air Force as a fighter instructor pilot.
In staff jobs, the air marshal has served as deputy director in Operations Branch, personal staff officer to two air chiefs, chief project director of F-16 Project and senior air staff officer at Northern Air Command, Peshawar. At senior staff assignments, the air marshal has the unique distinction of having served as deputy chief of air staff administration and then operations. Before taking over the PAF, he was the vice chief of air staff
He took over as VCAS on 13 October 2003.
Tanvir M. Ahmed was promoted to air vice marshal in January 2000 and to air marshal on 7 August 2002. He took over as the 18th Chief of Air Staff (Chemical Abstracts Service) on 20 March 2006, when the previous chief completed his three-year term.
The air marshal has also introduced a new rank scheme for the Air Force officers, soon after taking over, which exactly mimics the Turkish Air Force rank insignia. Criticism of United States Drone Attacks inside Pakistan
Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad has expressed PAF capability to be able to stop United States drone attacks inside Pakistan as a violation of Pakistan sovereignty.
However, such military actions need approval from the government, before PAF goes on to take such action.
Saying at one point: "The decision as to whether or not we want to start a war will have to be made by the nation and the government."
Demonstration of strategic acumen in estate planning
A hallmark of his tenure as Chief of Air Staff was his involvement in the planning and execution of the First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Hamra Avenue (First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Hamra (Islamabad)) housing society under the aegis of the Shaheen Foundation. He took a personal interest in the sizing and distribution of plots followed up by meticulous and detailed discussions with the builders. National Girl Child Day Photograph
Ahmed, upon learning of the publication, ".wasn"t aware about this an innocent mistake.".