Diplomat Correspondent
New Delhi : DD, Air Marshal Manish Khanna, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vayu Sena Medal (VM), assumed command of the Southern Air Command (SAC) as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on 01 Jun 2025 at Thiruvananthapuram.
Commissioned in the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on 06 Dec 1986, the Air Officer is a category `A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare and National Defence College.
The Air Officer has over 4000 hours of flying experience on various fighter and trainer aircraft. Apart from his rich operational experience in Air Defence, Ground Attack, Strategic Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare, the Air Marshal has wide ranging experience in the training domain including an international assignment as the Chief Flying Instructor with the Botswana Defence Forces.
In his illustrious service career spanning almost four decades, the Air Marshal has tenanted important command and staff appointments.
These include Commanding Officer of the Fighter Squadron, Aircrew Examining Board, a major Flying Base, Advance Headquarters, Western Air Command and Commandant at College of Air Warfare (CAW).
The Air Marshal was Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at South Western Command (SWAC) prior to taking over the present appointment.DD
