Sumit Mukerji takes over as Air Officer-in-charge personnel, IAF

NI Wire

New Delhi

Thu, 01 May 2008: 

Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji took over as Air Officer-in-charge Personnel at Indian Air Force (IAF) Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan in New Delhi on May 1.

He substituted Air Marshal VR Iyer who has advanced to Training Command as Air Officer Commanding –in-Chief.

Born on June 26, 1951 at New Delhi, Air Marshal Mukerji completed his education from Sherwood College, Nainital and then graduated from the National Defence Academy in 1970.

He was commissioned after two years in 1972.

He has also been a Qualified Flying Instructor (Cat ‘A’), a Fighter Combat Leader and a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, he also worked as an instructor in same college.

Having distinction of being one of the very few officers of the IAF to have commanded three Operational Fighter Squadrons/Units, Mukerji took his first command as a MIG-29 Squadron, MIG-25 Squadron and Tactics and Air Combat Developments Establishment as second and third respectively. He also became the Commodore Commandant of the Tactics and Air Development Establishment.

He is also the only pilot in the history of IAF to have commanded units with the MiG-21, MiG-23U, MiG-25, MiG-27 and MiG-29 aircraft. Besides, he has commanded an operational air base in the deserts of Western India and has over 3700 hours of flying on fighter aircraft.

He was also conferred the peace time Gallantry Award, Shaurya Chakra in 1981 and the Vishist Seva Medal for services of a high order in 1997.

Furthermore he has also served as the Air Attaché in the Embassy of India, Washington DC and has held staff appointments at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence.

Mukerji was posted as Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command, IAF before acquiring as Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel.