Article Posted on : - Sep 02, 2009

NEW DELHI (PTI): Air Marshal K J Mathews, an experienced fighter pilot and former member of the acclaimed Thunderbolts aerobatic team, Tuesday, took over as the new head of human resources in the Indian Air Force Headquarters here, an official release said.

Air Marshal Mathews took over as the Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel (AOP) in place of Air Marshal S Mukherji, who is now the new Southern Air Command chief.

Commissioned into the IAF in 1973, Mathews has over 3,500 hours of flying experience on various types of aircraft including HF-24 (Marut), Hunter, MiG-21M and MiG-29, the release said.

His previous appointments included Station Commander of an operational base during Kargil battle, Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Adampur, Principal Director of Concept Studies, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) at Air headquarters, and Commandant of Air Force Academy.

Air Marshal Mathews is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and US' Air War College.