Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 403/22

AIR MARSHAL SP DHARKAR TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER COMMANDING IN CHIEF OF EASTERN AIR COMMAND

Air Marshal SP Dharkar, AVSM assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Headquarters Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force on 01 Oct 2022. An experienced fighter pilot with over 3600 hours of flying, he is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun, National Defence Academy Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Air War College, USA. Commissioned in June 1985, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader and Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner and has also been an Air Force Examiner.

During his illustrious career, he has commanded a front line fighter squadron and a Fighter Flying Training Establishment. He has instructional experience in conducting Professional Military Education for medium and senior level officers at the Defence Services Staff College and at the College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad. He has served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff Training at Air Headquarters and Air Defence Commander at Headquarters Eastern Air Command. He has the distinction of being the first Director General of Defence Space Agency. Before assuming his present appointment, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar. Air Marshal S Dharkar succeeds Air Marshal DK Patnaik AVSM, VM who superannuated on 30 Sep 22 after more than 38 years of distinguished service in the IAF.