Air Marshal Gupta is new DGMS(Air)

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Air Marshal J K Gupta is the new Director General Medical Service (Air) -- succeeding Air Marshal HK Maini who retired on March 31.

Air Marshal Gupta, an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps on January 15, 1970. With more than 37 years of service now, he will be occupying the topmost post that a medical officer in the Indian Air Force can aspire to.

Having an innate interest in Aviation and the aviator, Air Marshal Gupta specialised in Aviation Medicine in 1975 since when he has had a very successful career as a specialist and a friend of the aviator.

This is borne out from his long stints at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at Bangalore where he contributed not only to Research and Medical Evolution but was recognised by Bangalore University and later Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences as Professor in Aerospace Medicine.

During his tenure with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), he represented the country at a number of international medical conferences organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The Air Officer has commanded prestigious institutes like the Air Force Central Medical Establishment, New Delhi and Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore.

Preceding these assignments, he has served as Principal Medical Officer (PMO) Eastern Air Command, South Western Air Command and Training Command.

Air Mshl Gupta was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2005 for Distinguished service and appointed as the President's Honorary Surgeon in 2006.

After serving as Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) -- under the Defence Ministry -- from June 2006, he assumed the appointment of DGMS (Air) yesterday.

UNI