on 20 march 1972, the title of the office was changed from "commander in chief" to the "chief of air staff" with air marshal zafar chaudhry being appointed as the first person to hold the latter title. the air force had its first four-star rank officer, an air chief marshal, in 1974. the term of the superannuation was then constrained to three years in the office as opposed to four years and air chief was made a permanent member of joint chiefs of staff committee. since 1974, there has been 14 four-star rank air force officers who have commanded the air force as its air chief.