Hyderabad: An NDA graduate, newly-appointed Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy served as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force before plunging into politics two decades ago.
He had flown MIG-21 and MIG-23 aircraft in frontline fighter squadrons, and was decorated for gallantry in Siachen and other operations.
Mr Reddy, who holds a senior commercial pilot license, had served as ADC and Comptroller to the President of India before he resigned from this prestigious permanent job at Rashtrapathi Bhavan in 1994 and joined the Congress.
A four-time MLA, the 52-year-old leader was TPCC's working president prior to this elevation.
A former housing minister in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, Mr Reddy represents Huzurnagar constituency in Nalgonda district.
He was elected twice each from Kodad and Huzurnagar. He also headed the prestigious and high profile all party Assembly committee which dealt with the sensitive issue of locals being given priority in government jobs in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.