Dilip Kumar Patnaik

Early life and education He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakwasla and Defence Services Staff College, Tamil Nadu and has done the Higher Air Command Course.

Career Dilip Kumar Patnaik was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 8 June 1984. He has flying experience of 2500 hours various aircraft including Mig-21 and Mirage 2000.

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.

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.

Patnaik has conducted many live bombing missions during Kargil conflict.