Air Marshal Karnik to take over as Director General (Inspection and Safety)

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Air Marshal Ajay Shriniwas Karnik will on April 1 take over as Director General (Inspection and Safety) at Air Headquarters in RK Puram.

An alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, he was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in Jun 1972.

Air Marshal Karnik has flown over 3000 hours on fighter aircraft like MiG-21 Bis and MiG-29.

A fighter combat leader and a qualified flying instructor, he is also an alumnus of Air War College, University of United States Air Force (USAF), Montgomery, USA.

Having trained in the erstwhile USSR on MiG-29, Karnik went on to command a prestigious MiG-29 Squadron. He has also commanded important operational Air Force bases in the Western Desert Sector and the Western Coastal Region of India.

Air Marshal Karnik has a vast experience in operational flying, training, Command and Staff appointments, as he has served as Head of Training Team (Air) and Senior Instructor at the premier tri-services Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, and Air Officer Commanding, Maritime Air Operations, Mumbai.

He has also served as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) Eastern Air Command (EAC), Shillong.

The President of India has awarded him Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal for his distinguished service of very high order.

Air Marshal Karnik is presently Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Western Air Command. (ANI)