IAF gets new Vice Chief, Western Command head

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday saw change of guard in the offices of the Vice Chief, Western Command Chief and Central Command Chief.

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari took over as the Vice Chief, succeeding Air Marshal HS Arora who retired after over 39 years of service. Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned in the fighter stream in December 1982. Air Marshal BR Krishna took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command, which is headquartered in Delhi. The command is tasked with all operations in Ladakh and along a major portion of the western boundary with Pakistan. Air Marshal Krishna was commissioned in the IAF in December 1983 as a fighter pilot.

Air Marshal RJ Duckworth assumed the charge as the AOC-in-C, Central Air Command, headquartered at Allahabad.

Separately in the Army, Lt Gen Sunil Puri Goswami took over as the Director General, Army Air Defence. He took charge from Lt Gen AP Singh upon his superannuation. Commissioned in 1984, Lt Gen Goswami has commanded an AD missile regiment and an independent air defence brigade in a Strike Corps.