AIR MARSHAL B.R. KRISHNA APPOINTED CHIEF OF INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF (CISC)

Air Marshal B.R. Krishna took over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from September 30, 2021. Earlier he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command which he took over on July 1, 2021. The Air Marshal was commissioned in the IAF in December 1983 as a Fighter Pilot. In a distinguished career spanning nearly 38 years, the Air Officer, being a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, has flown a wide variety of fighters, transports and helicopters in the inventory of IAF. He has a flying experience of nearly 5,000 hours, including operational, instructional and test flying.

AIR MARSHAL SANDEEP SINGH APPOINTED VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF, IAF

Air Marshal Sandeep Singh has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force on October 1, 2021. An alumnus of National Defence Academy, the Air Marshal was commissioned in the flying branch of IAF in December 1983 as a Fighter pilot. The Air Officer is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. He has rich and diverse experience in operational and experimental test flying on various types of fighter aircraft and has flown about 4400 hours.

AIR MARSHAL AMIT DEV APPOINTED AOC-IN-C, WESTERN AIR COMMAND

Air Marshal Amit Dev took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command, Indian Air Force on September 30, 2021. He was earlier heading the Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force, Shillong, from October 1, 2020. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on December 29, 1982 and has flying experience of more than 2,500 hours on MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter aircraft. He did his schooling from St Michael’s, Patna and joined National Defence Academy in 1979. He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on December 29, 1982.

AIR MARSHAL DILIP KUMAR PATNAIK APPOINTED AOC-IN-C, EASTERN AIR COMMAND, INDIAN AIR FORCE

Air Marshal Patnaik took charge as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Air Command on October 3, 2021. He was commissioned in Indian Air Force on June 8, 1984, as a fighter pilot. He has flown a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircrafts including the Mirage 2000 and the MiG-21. He has a rich operational flying experience of over 2500 hours. In the summer of 1999, he carried out the first ever night Laser Guided Bomb strike on Tiger Hill, facilitating its recapture from the enemy. The Air Officer has held numerous important appointments. He commanded a frontline Fighter Base as an Air Commodore. As an Air Vice Marshal, Patnaik has held the coveted appointments of Chief Staff Officer (Air Vector) at HQ Strategic Forces Command and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence) at Air Head Quarters.

AIR MARSHAL VIKRAM SINGH APPOINTED AOC-IN-C, SOUTH WESTERN AIR COMMAND, INDIAN AIR FORCE

Air Marshal Vikram Singh took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters South-Western Air Command on October 3, 2021. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on 21 December 1984. The Air Marshal flew MiG-21 and Mirage-2000 aircraft before undergoing the Flying Instructor’s Course, Experimental Flight Test Course and Staff Course at Pretoria, South Africa. He has performed Flight Test duties at the National Flight Test Centre, commanded an Air Force Station, served in various staff appointments in Air Headquarters and has been the Air Attache at Moscow, Russia.

M. SURESH TAKES OVER AS MEMBER (AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES) AT AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (AAI)

M Suresh has taken over the charge as Member (Air Navigation Services) at Airports Authority of India on September 2, 2021. Prior to this assignment, Suresh was holding the charge of post of Executive Director (Aviation Safety) at Corporate Headquarters of AAI and discharging the strategic function of ensuring safety in aerodrome operation and air navigations services and developing and maintaining a safety management policy of AAI.

He also worked as Regional Executive Director (North East Region) and was responsible for planning, design of modern state-of-the-art environmentfriendly airport terminals and airside infrastructure such as runways, apron and their financial evaluation, regulatory clearances, tendering and award processes.

BOEING

On August 23, 2021, the Boeing Company announced the appointment of Alexander Feldman as the new President of the company’s Southeast Asia business, effective August 27, 2021. Feldman is based in Singapore and oversees the company’s strategy and operations as Boeing expands its regional presence.