The Centre has decided to appoint Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next Chief of Air Staff, the Union Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
"Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC on 30th September, 2021."Ministry of Defence
Chaudhari, who has been hitherto serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff, will be succeeding Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria to the position, after the latter's retirement on 30 September.
Who is Air Marshal VR Chaudhari?
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on 29 December 1982, and has been serving the forces for almost four decades.
He has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircrafts, including missions flown during Op-Meghdoot and Op-Safed Sagar, a press release issued by the government in July had stated.
Chaudhari has held various command, staff, and instructional posts at various levels within the forces, a government statement observed.
He had taken charge as the vice chief of air staff on 1 July, and had succeeded former air marshal HS Arora, who superannuated on 30 June. Prior to this, Air Marshal Chaudhari had held the post of air officer commanding-in-chief of western air command.
In his capacity as air vice marshal, Chaudhari has also served as the deputy commandant of Air Force Academy, assistant chief of air staff operations (air defence) and assistant chief of air staff (personnel officers).
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