Jammu, March 20 (KNO) : Air Commodore Ajay Singh Pathania Wednesday took over the command of Air Force Station Jammu as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) from Air Commodore SK Mishra. As per a statement issued to KNO, on this occasion, an impressive ceremonial parade by the Air Warriors was held at Air Force Station Jammu.
Air Cmde AS Pathania was commissioned in the IAF in 1986. An experienced Flying Instructor and a graduate of Defence Service Staff College, the Air Officer has flying experience, in his credit, of about 6000 hrs on helicopter and trainer aircraft in India and abroad. He has been the Flight Commander of three types of helicopters and commanded two types of helicopter units which includes Chetak/Cheetah in Eastern Sector of India and MI-25 in UN Mission DRC Congo.
He has been Chief Operational Officer of a premier Air Force Base and also commanded a TAC in Eastern Sector. The Air Officer has also served as Personal and Operational staff at Air HQs. He was directly involved in major Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) Helicopter Operations between 2012 to 2015 including in Kashmir valley & Jammu, Uttrakhand & other places.
He was instrumental during Rescue & Relief ops after Nepal earthquake as well as Yemen Evacuation in Apr 2015. He has been Air Officer Commanding and President of Air Force Selection Board at Kolkata (Kanchrapara) and Dehradun before taking over as AOC of AF Stn Jammu.
He was awarded Chief of the Air Staff commendation in 1995, AOC-in-C HQ Training Command commendation in 1997 and Vishisht Seva Medal in Jan 2015.(KNO)