SHILLONG, Oct 3: Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, AVSM, VM, assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding In Chief of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) of Indian Air Force on Sunday, a statement said.
Patnaik was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 8, 1984. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, and College of Air Warfare. A fighter combat leader, Air Marshal he has over 2,500 hours of accident-free flying experience on various types of aircraft.
He has held a number of important positions including command of a frontline fighter base, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence) and Commandant, College of Air Warfare. Before assuming Command of EAC, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarter, Central Air Command.
