Dilip Kumar Patnaik

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Dilip Kumar Patnaik
Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik AVSM VM, AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command.jpg
Personal details
Spouse(s)Anuradha Patnaik
AwardsAVSM, VM
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service8 June 1984 - 30 September 2022[1]
RankIndian IAF OF-8.svg Air Marshal
CommandsEastern Air Command
Battles/warsKargil War
Service number17464[1]

Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, AVSM, VM is a retired officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command. He took over the office on 3 October 2021, succeeding of Air Marshal Amit Dev and superannuated on 30 September, 2022. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar.[2][3]

Early life and education[edit]

He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadagwasla and Defence Services Staff College, Tamil Nadu and has done the Higher Air Command Course.[4]

Career[edit]

Dilip Kumar Patnaik was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 08, 1984. He has flying experience of 2500 hours various aircraft including Mig-21 and Mirage 2000.[1][5]

Patnaik has served as a mission commander for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Unit and has 800 hours experience as on Searcher MK-II & Heron unmanned aircraft.

He has held various appointments including commander of an Air Defence Station, Commandant of Electronic Warfare Range and as a commander of a front-line fighter base. He had served as the Principal Director (Information & Electronic Warfare) at Air HQ, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence), Commandant of the prestigious College of Air Warfare, Telangana.[6][7]

Previous to his present assignment, he had served as Senior Air Staff Officer for the Central Air Command from 1 August 2020 to 2 October 2021.[8][1]

Patnaik has conducted many live bombing missions during Kargil conflict.[2]

Honours and decorations[edit]

During his career, Dilip Kumar Patnaik has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his contribution in Kargil War and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.[1]

Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Personal life[edit]

Dilip Kumar Patnaik is married to Mrs Anuradha Patnaik who is President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple is blessed with a son.[5]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik - Bharat Rakshak". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Air Marshal DK Patnaik takes charge as head of Eastern Air Command". Business Standard. 2021-10-03.
  3. "SP Dharkar new chief of IAF Eastern Air Command". India Today. 2022-10-01.
  4. "Odisha Born Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik Is The New Eastern Air Commander". Odisha TV. 2021-10-02.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "AOC-in-C-EAC". Indian Air Force. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  6. "College of Air Warfare gets a new head". The Hindu. 1 October 2019.
  7. "Air Marshal Dilip Patnaik to head Eastern Air Command". New Indian Express. 2021-10-03.
  8. "Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, takes over as senior Air Staff Officer of Central Air Command". UNI India. 2020-08-01.
Military offices
Preceded by
Amit Dev
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command
3 October 2021 - 30 September 2022
Succeeded by
Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar
Preceded by
Vipin Indira Panabhan Nayar
Senior Air Staff Officer - Central Air Command
1 August 2020 - 2 October 2021
Succeeded by
Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor