Dhillon promoted as Air Marshal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 23

A decorated officer of the Indian Air Force, Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon, has been promoted as Air Marshal. He joined as Air Marshal on June 5.

It is a proud moment for the holy city in particular. Born on January 2, 1961, Dhillon was brought up in Dhand village, near Amritsar. Now, his family is residing at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar.

Air Marshall Dhillon is an alumnus of St Francis School, Amritsar; Sainik School, Kapurthala; and Khalsa College, Amritsar. He is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College.

Air Marshall Dhillon was awarded the Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal by the President of India in 2014 for his distinguished service.

Dhillon joined Indian Air Force as fighter pilot in 1981. He has a total 3,700 flying hrs to his credit of which 3,100 hrs are exclusively for flying MIG 21.

Air Marshal Dhillon was the topper of the fighter strike leader course at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE). Later, he served as directing staff at the TACDE in the capacity of head of the Training and Deputy Commandant. He has commanded a MIG-21 squadron and has been the chief operations officers of a premier flying base.

He also commanded a helicopter base in DR Congo as part of UN Peace Keeping Mission. Dhillon served as Principal, Director Air Defence, and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (inspection) at Air Headquarters.

Dhillon comes from the family, who has been rendering its services for the country for the last five decades. Dhillon acknowledges contributions of his father, Advocate Khazan Singh Dhillon, and mother Balbir Kaur Dhillon. His elder brother Prof Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, an economist, is currently the registrar of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, His younger brother Preetinder Singh Dhillon is a business professional.