Air Marshal Naik is new IAF Vice Chief

New Delhi, Jan 1 (UNI) Air Marshal P V Naik today took over as the Vice Chief of the India Air Force at Air headquarters here.

A graduate from Sainik School Satara, National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, he was commissioned in the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on June 21 1969.

In his distinguished career of 38 years, he has flown all MiG-21 variants and MiG-23-BNs. He is a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, a Defence Ministry statement said.

Besides having held important command and staff appointments, Air Marshal Naik has commanded two bases - Air Force stations at Srinagar and Bidar. He functioned as Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command before assuming his current charge today, the statement added.

He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2003 and appointed Honorary ADC to the President on July 25, 2007.

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