Pune, Jan 1 (IANS) Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill Tuesday took over as the new commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA) here, an official said.
Gill was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1977 and has more than 7,000 hours of accident-free flying to his credit.
Gill is also a qualified flying instructor. He was also a member of the seventh and eighth Indian expeditions to Antarctica.
He has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 1990 and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2005, apart from the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2010.
In a career spanning 35 years, Gill has commanded various frontline bases and was also the Contingent Commander for the first UN mission to Congo, the official said.
While commanding Air Force Station Leh, he was instrumental in re-commissioning of two airfields. During his command, Air Force Station Leh was declared the ‘Pride of Western Air Command’.
