The government on Friday said the name of Air Marshal Browne, nicknamed "Charlie Browne" in military circles, has been cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Air Marshal Browne has held crucial command and staff posts during his 39-year career in IAF, including being the chief of the operationally significant Western Air Command.
Air Marshal Browne, whose son Omar is also a fighter pilot posted at the Sukhoi-30MKI base in Bareilly, will be at the helm for two-and-a-half years at a time when IAF is slowly transforming itself into an "expeditionary'' force with "strategic reach" to protect and project India's geo-political interests.