Thiruvananthapuram: Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan has been appointed as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command. The new AOC-in-C was received with a grand Guard of Honor.
Before being appointed to lead the Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan was the senior Air Staff Officer of Air Operations in Eastern Air Command.
Balakrishnan Manikantan is a native of Kottayam and received his school education at Kazhakootam Sainik School. After his schooling he got admission at the National Defence Academy and then went on to receive his Masters from the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.
He received his MMS from College of Defence Management in Secunderbad, an M. Phil from National Defence College in New Delhi.
The AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal from the President.
