New Delhi, March 31 (Inditop.com) Air Marshal Ajay Shriniwas Karnik will Thursday take over as director general of inspection and safety wing of the Indian Air Force (IAF), an official said Wednesday.

Karnik, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakvasla, is at present senior air staff officer (SASO) at the Western Air Command.

Karnik, in his latest appointment, would be in-charge of flight safety of the entire air force fleet.

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1972 and is also an alumnus of the Air War College, University of United States Air Force (USAF), Montgomery.

Karnik has over 3,000 hours of experience flying fighter aircraft like MIG-21 Bis and MIG-29.

“Air Marshal Karnik has vast experience in operational flying, training, command and staff appointments. He has served as head of training team (air) and senior instructor at the premier tri-services Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) and air officer commanding, maritime air operations, in Mumbai,” an air force officer said here.