SHILLONG, Oct 1: Air Marshal SP Dharkar on Saturday took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command (EAC) in Shillong on Saturday.
An experienced fighter pilot with over 3600 hours of flying, Air Marshal Dharkar succeeds Air Marshal DK Patnaik who superannuated on Friday after more than 38 years of service in the IAF.
According to a statement, Air Marshal Dharkar is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun, National Defence Academy Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Air War College, USA.
“Commissioned in June 1985, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader and Instrument Rating Instructor & Examiner and has also been an Air Force Examiner,” the statement said.
The new EAC chief has also commanded a frontline fighter squadron and a Fighter Flying Training Establishment and possesses instructional experience in conducting Professional Military Education for medium and senior-level officers at the Defence Services Staff College and at the College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
“He has served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) at Air Headquarters and Air Defence Commander at Headquarters Eastern Air Command. He has the distinction of (Contd on P-4)
Air Marshal Dharkar is…
(Contd from P-3) being the first Director General of Defence Space Agency,” the statement said.
It is pertinent to note that prior to his appointment as the EAC chief, Air Marshal Dharkar was the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar.
