Dilip Kumar Patnaik
Dilip Kumar Patnaik | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Anuradha Patnaik |
| Awards | AVSM, VM |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 8 June 1984 - 30 September 2022[1] |
| Rank |  Air Marshal |
| Commands | Eastern Air Command |
| Battles/wars | Kargil War |
| Service number | 17464[1] |
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.[2][3]
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.[4]
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.[1][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][1]
Patnaik has conducted many live bombing missions during Kargil conflict.[2]
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.[1]
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| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
Personal life
Dilip Kumar Patnaik is married to Mrs Anuradha Patnaik who is the President of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple has a son named Bramhtej Patnaik.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik - Bharat Rakshak". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "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.