Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, AVSM, VM is a retired officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command. He took over the office on 3 October 2021, succeeding of Air Marshal Amit Dev and superannuated on 30 September, 2022. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar.[1][2]
Early life and education
He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadagwasla and Defence Services Staff College, Tamil Nadu and has done the Higher Air Command Course.[3]
Career
Dilip Kumar Patnaik was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 08, 1984. He has flying experience of 2500 hours various aircraft including Mig-21 and Mirage 2000.[4][5]
Patnaik has served as a mission commander for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Unit and has 800 hours experience as on Searcher MK-II & Heron unmanned aircraft.
He has held various appointments including commander of an Air Defence Station, Commandant of Electronic Warfare Range and as a commander of a front-line fighter base. He had served as the Principal Director (Information & Electronic Warfare) at Air HQ, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), Commandant of the prestigious College of Air Warfare, Telangana.[6][7]
Previous to his present assignment, he had served as Senior Air Staff Officer for the Central Air Command from 1 August 2020 to 2 October 2021.[8][4]
Patnaik has conducted many live bombing missions during Kargil conflict.[1]
Honours and decorations
During his career, Dilip Kumar Patnaik has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his contribution in Kargil War and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.[4]
| Template:Ribbon devices | Template:Ribbon devices |
| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
Personal life
Dilip Kumar Patnaik is married to Mrs Anuradha Patnaik who is President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple is blessed with a son.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Air Marshal DK Patnaik takes charge as head of Eastern Air Command. Business Standard(2021-10-03).
- ↑ SP Dharkar new chief of IAF Eastern Air Command. India Today(2022-10-01).
- ↑ Odisha Born Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik Is The New Eastern Air Commander. Odisha TV(2021-10-02).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik - Bharat Rakshak. Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 AOC-in-C-EAC. Indian Air Force. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ College of Air Warfare gets a new head. The Hindu(1 October 2019).
- ↑ Air Marshal Dilip Patnaik to head Eastern Air Command. New Indian Express(2021-10-03).
- ↑ Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, takes over as senior Air Staff Officer of Central Air Command. UNI India(2020-08-01).
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