New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI): Air Marshal DC Kumaria has taken over as the first ever Director General Operations at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) here today.

Air Marshal Kumaria was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the flying branch of Indian Air Force (IAF) on July 2, 1973.

A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, he is a Qualified Weapon Instructor (QWI) having undergone the QWI course in the United Kingdom and a Fighter Combat Leader, who also served as a Directing Staff at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).

He has held many important field and staff appointments in his service career.

He has been Assistant Advisor (Air) at Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh and has served as a Defence Attachi at Indian Embassy in Rome (Italy) with concurrent accreditation to the Iberian countries.

He was specially selected to write the Air Power Doctrine of the IAF in 1994. He has commanded a frontline Jaguar Squadron specialising in Maritime Strike Role as well as a fighter air base and has had operational experience of flying all versions of MiG-21 and Jaguar aircraft.

He has also functioned as the Principal Director of Concept Studies at Air Headquarters, as Air I at Headquarters Western Air Command and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Space) at Air Headquarters prior to taking over as the first ever Director General Operations at Air Headquarters.

Air Marshal Kumaria was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1983 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 1996 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2007 for distinguished service of high order. (ANI)