Article Posted on : - Jun 02, 2015

AHMEDABAD (PTI): Air Marshal R K Dhir has taken over the charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South-Western Air Command (SWAC) of the Indian Air Force after his predecessor Air Marshal B S Dhanoa was appointed the Vice Chief of Air Staff, an official statement said.

"Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir today (Monday) took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of South Western Air Command (SWAC)," said a statement issued by the Defence PRO here.

Air Marshal Dhir, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy Khadakwasala, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 15 June 1979. The Air Marshal has flown over 3,200 hours on more than 25 types of aircraft in a career spanning over 36 years, it said.

A recipient of 'Vayu Sena Medal' and 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal', Air Marshal Dhir has served twice earlier at the South Western Air Command as Air Defence Commander and Senior Air Staff Officer, it added.

Before taking over his new charge, Dhir held the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer at Southern Air Command.