Air Marshal RK Jolly takes charge as new commander in east

Kolkata: Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar Jolly has taken over as the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command at Shillong, officials said here Thursday.

Air Marshal Jolly, formerly AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command, now has the distinction of heading two IAF operational commands consecutively. He succeeds Air Mshl R K Sharma, who has since taken over as the Vice-Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters in New Delhi. He was presented with a `Ceremonial Guard of Honour` by air warriors of HQ EAC on assuming command yesterday. A gold medalist graduate from Delhi University and an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Jolly was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on July 11, 1975. He has flown various aircraft, which include Hunter, Marut and all MiG-21 variants and has over 3800 hrs of flying. A qualified flying instructor, he has held many important field and staff appointments. He commanded a premier forward fighter airbase and was the Air Attach? at the Embassy of India in Washington DC from 2005 to 2008. He has been the Senior Air Staff Officer, both at South Western Air Command and Southern Air Command. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 1997 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003 for distinguished service. Air Marshal Jolly is also an honorary aide-de-camp to the President of India.