Air Marshal Manavendra Singh appointed chief of Southern Air Command

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3

Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has been appointed the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the IAF's Southern Air Command. He takes over from Air Marshal Amit Tiwari who has been posted as chief of the Central Air Command. 

Prior to assuming his present assignment, Air Marshal Manavendra Singh was serving as the Director General, Inspection and Safety, at Air Headquarters, according to an official statement.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla, Army War College, Mhow, and Joint Forces Staff College in the US, he was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in December 1982 as a helicopter pilot.

In a career spanning over 38 years, Air Marshal Singh has held a number of command and staff positions. He has commanded various frontline air bases besides heading the IAF peacekeeping contingent in Bukavu in Congo.

He has over 6,600 hours of flying experience on  a variety of helicopters and trainer aircraft in various challenging sectors like the Siachen, the North East, Uttarakhand, the western desert and Congo.

Besides being decorated with the Vir Chakra for gallantry, he is also a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.