Newsroom24x7 Desk

New Delhi, Feb. 3: Air Marshal S Neelakantan YSM, VM, has taken over as Air Officer in charge Personnel (AOP) at Air Headquarter (Vayu Bhawan). He was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in December 1977. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington & TACDE, AF.

Air Marshal S Neelakantan is a qualified flying instructor. He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and two flying bases. He led the Indian Air Force contingent in Congo as part of UN peace keeping mission in 2006-07. He has held various staff and instructional appointments. He was Director General of Inspection & Safety before taking over as AOP. He is decorated with the presidential awards Yudh Sewa Medal (YSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).

He is married to Uma Neelakantan. He is a keen sportsman and plays Golf, Cricket & Badminton. He is a qualified open water scuba diver. His hobbies are cooking and sketching.