Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna,VSM,ADC took over as the new GOC-in-C (General Officer Commanding in Chief) of the southern command on January 1. He has replaced Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj,who will be taking charge as new Vice-Chief of Army Staff in Delhi. Lt Gen Khanna was inducted into the armed forces in December 20,1970 into the 20 Lancers (Armored Corps). He was involved in operational services at the Western Frontier during the 1971 war with Pakistan. He has also served as Brig Major of the Mountain Brigade and Military Advisor to General Officer Commanding in Chief,Northern Command. He has commanded an Armored Division and the elite 21 corps. He was also involved in the successful completion of the World Military Games in Secunderabad. Appointed as Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the President of India in 2008,he is also the Colonel Commandant of five Armored Regiments.