Indian Air Force has new VCAS and AOC in C, WAC
Indian Air Force has new Vice Chief of the Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command.
Air Marshal PV Naik VSM ADC has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters in New Delhi, today.
The Air Marshal was born on 22 Jul 1949 at Nagpur. He is a graduate of Sainik School Satara, National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.
He was commissioned in the fighter stream on 21 Jun 1969. During his distinguished career of 38 years in Air Force, he has flown all MiG-21 variants and MiG-23-BNs. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor, a Fighter Combat Leader, Graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.
He has held many important command and staff appointments. These include the command of a MiG-21 Bis Squadron at Pathankot, Chief Operations Officer at Bareilly, Directing Staff at TACDE and Defence Services Staff College, Battalion Commander at the National Defence Academy, Air-I of Western Air Command, Air Defence Commander of South Western Air Command and Director General of the Air Force Naval Housing Board. He has commanded two bases, AF Station Srinagar, an operational base in the Kashmir Valley and AF Station Bidar. He has functioned as Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters.
For distinguished service he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 03 and appointed Honorary ADC to the Hon’ble President of India wef 25 Jul 07.
Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vayu Sena Medal, has taken over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command of IAF in New Delhi, today.
The Air Marshal was born in December 1950 in Shillong and commissioned as a fighter pilot in June 1970. He is a very experienced flier and has flown over 3500 hours. He took part in the 1971 war.
He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader and has been on the Staff of Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment. He has also served two tenures in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection at Air Headquarters. He is a graduate of College of Combat, Mhow (Higher Command).
During his service career he has had the distinction of being part of the team during formation of the first Jaguar Squadron of the IAF and also inducting the Air Combat Simulator into the IAF, the first of its kind in Asia. He has held many operational assignments, such as Commanding Officer of a MiG-21 Squadron and Air combat Simulator Unit, Chief Operations Officer of a fighter Wing. He has served as Air Officer Commanding of a premier fighter Station. He has held the appointment of Air Attaché at the Embassy of India, Moscow and Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Perspective Plans and Force Structure) in HQ Integrated Defence Staff and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Inspection) at Air Headquarters (RK Puram). The Air Officer was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 07 Sep 05 and assigned the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command, IAF. With effect from 02 Apr 07 the Air Marshal, who is the first personality from the Defence Services hailing from the North East, was promoted and posted to the prestigious appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command.
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