Air Vice Marshal KJ Mathews takes over

Hyderabad, Mar 1 (UNI) Air Vice Marshal K J Mathews took over the command of Air Force Academy (AFA) in an impressive ceremony function held at Dundigal here today.

The AFA is the premier training institute of the Indian Air Force (IAF), where flight cadets are imparted quality training to become its officers in the flying, technical, administration, logistics, accounts, meteorology and education branches, a release here said.

Previoulsy, he was the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations). Air Vice Marshal Mathews, commissioned as a fighter pilot in June 1973, has flown the HF-24, Hunter, Mig-21M and the MiG-29 aircraft. He is a qualified Flying Instructor and a member of the Aeronautical Society of India with over 3500 hours of successful operational flying on various aircraft.

An alumnus of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, he underwent Air War College Course in the US in 2001-02.

Important milestones in his career include appointments as Chief Operations Officer of a fighter base, Station Commander of a base in J&K during Kargil operations, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Adampur, Principal Director at Directorate of Concept Studies and Air Assistant to the Chief of Air Staff.

He has been honoured with Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal for his 'meritorious services' for the country.

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