Thiruvananthapuram, August 31: Air Marshal Sumit Mukerjee will be the new Air Officer Commanding-in-chief of the Southern Air Command here and will assume charge on September 1.
Mukerjee was commissioned into fighter stream of the IAF in 1972. An alumni of the National Defence Academy, he has flown over 3,700 hours on a variety of fighter aircraft. He is a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, an official press release here said.
Mukerjee is the only pilot in IAF’s history to have commanded units with the Mig-21, Mig-23U, Mig-25, Mig-27 and Mig-29 aircraft.
He has also commanded tactics and air combat development establishement,it said.
Mukerjee is the recipient of Shaurya Chakra for gallantry in 1981 and the Vishisht Seva medal for services of high order in 1997.
He has also served as Air Attache in the Embassy of India in Washington and has held staff appointments at Air Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence.
—Agencies