New Delhi. Air Marshal C Harikumar took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command (WAC), January 1.
Air Marshal Harikumar succeeds Air Marshal SB Deo, who has moved to Air HQ as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.
The Air Marshal was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour on his arrival at HQ WAC.
He was commissioned in Indian Air Force (IAF) in the year 1979. A Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader, he has over 3300 hours of flying. He has done instructional tenures at Fighter Training Wing (FTW), Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and College of Air Warfare (CAW).
Air Marshal Harikumar is a graduate of Defense Service Staff College (DSSC) and National Defense College (NDC). He has commanded a Mig-21 Sqn, TACDE and a front line Fighter Base. His staff appointments include Ops-1A, Air-I at HQ WAC and Deputy Director Air Staff Inspection, Director Operations (Joint Planning) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Operations (Offensive) at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ South Western Air Command (SWAC).
The Air Marshal was AOC-in-C HQ Eastern Air Command (EAC) prior to his present appointment as Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command.
He was awarded CAS commendation in October 1997, and is also a recipient of Presidential awards of Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), Vayusena Medal (VM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).
He is married to Devika and they have two sons. He is an avid reader and enjoys travelling.
