Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar

Air Marshal

Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar

PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, ADC
AllegianceIndia
Service / branch Indian Air Force
Years of service14 December 1979 – 28 February 2019
RankAir Marshal
CommandsWestern Air Command
Eastern Air Command
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal
Spouse(s)Devika

Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command from 1 January 2017 to 28 February 2019. He assumed the office from Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo and was succeeded by Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Early life and education

Kumar is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun, National Defence Academy, Defence Service Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.[5]

Career

Kumar was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 14 December 1979.[8] He has clocked over 3300 hours of flying and is a qualified flying instructor. He held several key operational and administrative appointments at various stages of his service including Fighter Combat Leader of a MiG-21 squadron; Commander of a front line fighter base; Ops-1A; Air-I at HQ WAC; Deputy Director Air Staff Inspection; Director Operations (Joint Planning); Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Operations (Offensive) at Air HQ; Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ South Western Air Command; instructor at Fighter Training Wing (FTW), Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and College of Air Warfare (CAW). He was the AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command prior to his appointment as AOC-in-C Western Air Command.[5][8]

Kumar has been awarded several medals: the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2018), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2016), the Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2015), the Vayu Sena Medal (January 2011) and the CAS commendation (October 1997).[5][9]

Personal life

Kumar is married to Mrs. Devika and they have two sons. He enjoys travelling and reading.[5]

References

  1. ^ @IAF_MCC (1 March 2019). "Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command IAF retired on 28 Feb 2019 after an illustrious career spanning over 39 yrs. The Air Marshal was commissioned in the Flying Branch of Indian Air Force in the year 1979" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Air Marshal C Hari Kumar PVSM AVSM VM VSM ADC Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, WAC IAF Retires". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  3. ^ @IAF_MCC (1 March 2019). "Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, took over as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command (WAC) wef 01 Mar 19. Air Marshal C Hari Kumar handed over the command of WAC on his superannuation after 39 yrs of glorious service" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ @ANI (1 March 2019). "Western Air Command Chief Air Marshal C Hari Kumar retired yesterday on his due date of retirement after completing more than 39 years of service. Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar took over as his successor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Press Information Bureau". Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Air Marshal C. Hari Kumar To Take Charge Of Western Air Command". Huffington Post India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. ^ "WESTERN AIR COMMAND". indianairforce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Hari Kumar new Eastern Air Command chief - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Press Information Bureau". www.pib.nic.in. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
Media related to Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar at Wikimedia Commons
Military offices
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command
1 January 2017 – 28 February 2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command
1 September 2015 – 31 December 2016 		Succeeded by