New Delhi, July 23: The chief of the Shillong-headquartered Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal K.K. Nowhar, is set to take over as the vice-chief of the Indian Air Force in senior-level appointments with the imminent retirement of Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik.

The government last month announced that the current vice-chief, Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne, will take over as the chief. Naik retires on July 31.

Air Marshal Nowhar will be replaced by Air Marshal S. Varthaman in Shillong. Varthaman is currently senior air staff officer (SASO) of the Central Air Command headquartered in Allahabad.

He will be joined by Air Marshal M. Matheswaran who will take over as SASO in the Eastern Air Command.

Matheswaran is now assistant chief of air staff in Air Headquarters.

The SASO in the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal S.P. Singh, will take over as the chief of the Southern Air Command headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram.

Air Marshal P.S. Gill, now the air officer commanding Jammu and Kashmir, will take over as SASO in Allahabad.