<span style="color: #222222;">Air Marshal RD Mathur AVSM VSM assumed charge of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force, today at Shillong, as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. Talking to reporters in Shillong, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh, Spokesperson and PRO gave this information.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">An alumnus of St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun, Mr Mathur had joined the National Defence Academy in 1978 and was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1982.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and an airbase in the western sector. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Instrument Rating Examiner with over 5000 hours of flying experience on a variety of fighter aircrafts, trainers and helicopters. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014 by the President of India.</span>