Air Marshal SP Dharkar appointed next Indian Air Force Vice Chief

Ace fighter pilot Air Marshal SP Dharkar was on Wednesday appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff. Dharkar would be succeeding incumbent Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who was appointed as the next Air Force chief last week.
Dharkar will be assuming his new role after the new Air Force chief takes over on September 30.
Dharkar, a veteran fighter pilot with over 3,600 hours of flying, is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun, National Defence Academy Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Air War College, US.
Commissioned in June 1985, Air Marshal Dharkar is a qualified flying instructor, fighter strike leader, instrument rating instructor and examiner, and an Air Force Examiner.
During his illustrious career, Air Marshal Dharkar commanded a front line fighter squadron and a Fighter Flying Training Establishment.
He has instructional experience of conducting professional military education for medium and senior level officers at the Defence Services Staff College and at the College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad.
The seasoned fighter pilot has served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) at Air Headquarters and Air Defence Commander at Headquarters Eastern Air Command.
He has the distinction of being the first Director General of Defence Space Agency. He has been the head of Eastern Air Command for the last two years now.
Earlier, on September 21, the government appointed Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh to be the next Chief of the Air Staff. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, who will retire on the same date.