A third generation army officer with over 36 years of service in various assignments across the country and as a UN Peacekeeper in Somalia. Alumnus of the NDA and IMA, was commissioned into the Army Service Corps in June 1984.

He has had a wide experience in recruitment of soldiers and in officer candidate selection and has been involved in training of personnel from recruit to senior level officers. Logistics and supply chain management have been the mainstay of his career but his interests and duties have been multifarious.

Besides a graduation in science from JNU, the officer also holds post graduate diplomas in Public Relations as well as in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. He has also qualified with top honours in all military courses he has attended, including the Technical Staff Course..

Having qualified from the Defence Institute of Psychological Research, Delhi, he has served over five years as Interviewing Officer in the Selection Centres at Allahabad (Prayagraj) and Bangalore, and has conducted over 3000 live interviews.

He has also motivated and trained innumerable young men and women, particularly, from the NCC, to take up a career in the armed forces and to do well in other walks of life. Six of the cadets trained by him in the Maharashtra and in the Karnataka and Goa NCC Directorates have been recipients of Prime Minister’s medals in the All India Best Cadet competition held at New Delhi during Republic Day Camps.

Besides his engagement in service activities, Colonel Rakesh Nair has been a keen sportsman with medals at the national level in equestrian events, successful completion of Himalayan Rally and participation in various aero-sports. He is a former member of the National Selection Committee for selection of Indian equestrians for the Asian Games and other international competitions. .