Rajiv Dayal Mathur

Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is an officer in the Indian Air Force. He is currently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command. He assumed the office on 1 October 2020 succeeding Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola.[2]He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command from 1 March 2019 to 30 September 2020.[3]

Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	4 June 1982 - Present
Rank	Air Marshal
Service number	16772[1]
Commands held	Training Command Eastern Air Command
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal

Early life and education

Mathur did his schooling from St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun. He joined National Defence Academy in 1978. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He also holds M.Sc and M Phil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University.[3][4]

Career

Mathur was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 4, 1982. He is a qualified flight instructor and has flying experience of over 5000 hours on a variety of fighter aircraft and helicopters.[5]

He has commanded a fighter aircraft squadron and a front-line air base. He has held various other appointments including Principal Director of information and electronics warfare, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (space) at air headquarters New Delhi, and air defence commander at headquarters Eastern Air Command. He has also been in-charge of air force's Air Warfare Strategy Cell as well as space, cyber, air traffic services and media and public relations directorate.[4][6] He took over the position of Senior Air Staff Officer, South Western Air Command in August 2018.[5]

Honours and decorations

During his career, Mathur has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2003, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2014, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2020 for his service.[1][7]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Vishisht Seva Medal

Personal life

Air Marshal Mathur is married to Shipra Mathur who is the president of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional).[8]

References

1. "368 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
2. "Indian Air Force to see major reshuffle at top level on October 1". New Indian Express. 29 September 2020.
3. "Rajiv Dayal Mathur takes over as Air Chief, Eastern Air Command". 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
4. "AIR VICE MARSHAL RD MATHUR PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF AIR MARSHAL". 2016-02-14. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
5. "Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur takes over as SWAC Sr Staff Officer". 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
6. "Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur takes over as the Senior Air Staff Officer of SWAC". 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
7. "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Awards to IAF Personnel on Republic Day - 2020". 2020-01-25.
8. "Air Marshal RD Mathur takes over as Aoc-In-C of EAC". 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2019-03-03.

|- |- |Preceded by
Raghunath Nambiar | Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command
1 March 2019 - 30 September 2020 | Succeeded by
Amit Dev |-|}