Article Posted on : - Jul 24, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): As the Indian Air Force awaits the change of guard next month, appointments of the chiefs of its Eastern and Southern commands have been made.

Air Marshal S Varthaman, an ace fighter pilot, will take over as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Shillong-based Eastern Command.

Varthaman is presently the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Allahabad-based Central Air Command.

SASO of the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal S P Singh will move to Thiruvananthpuram to head the Southern Air Command there from August 1.

Air Vice Marshal M Matheswaran will move to EAC as the SASO there.

Air Marshal NAK Browne has already been appointed as the successor of Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, who will demit office on July 31.

Present Eastern Air Commander Air Marshal K K Nohwar will replace Browne as the Vice Chief of Air Staff the same day.