Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji takes over as Air Officer-in-charge personnel, IAF

New Delhi, May 1 : Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji has taken over as Air Officer-in-charge personnel at air headquarters here today.

Air Marshal Mukerji has replaced Air Marshal VR Iyer who has proceeded to training command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Born on Jun 26 1951 at New Delhi, Air Marshal Mukerji was a product of Sherwood College, Nainital. He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 1970 and was commissioned on January 22, 1972.

He is a Qualified Flying Instructor (Cat 'A'), a fighter combat leader and a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College. He was also an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College.

He is one of the very few officers of the IAF to have commanded three operational fighter squadrons or units.

His first command was a MiG-29 Squadron, the second a MiG-25 Squadron and the third, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment of which he is the Commodore Commandant also.

Mukerji is the only pilot in the history of the IAF to have commanded units with the MiG-21, MiG-23U, MiG-25, MiG-27 and MiG-29 aircraft. He has also commanded an operational air base in the deserts of Western India and has over 3700 hours of flying on fighter aircraft.

He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for Gallantry (peace time) in 1981 and the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) for services of a high order in 1997. He has been the Air Attache in the Embassy of India, Washington DC and has held staff appointments at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence.

ANI