Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia Takes Charge as Vice Chief of Air Staff
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia assumes the role of Vice Chief of Air Staff, honoring fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial.
New Delhi, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia officially took over as the Vice Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on November 1. He marked the occasion by paying tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation at the National War Memorial.
With extensive experience flying various aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar, and Sukhoi-30 MKI, Air Marshal Walia received a formal guard of honor during the ceremony. At the memorial, he laid a wreath to honor the valiant soldiers who laid down their lives in defense of the country.
Walia’s appointment comes as part of significant changes in the senior leadership of the Indian Air Force. As Vice Chief, he will be a key member of the Air Force’s top leadership. Previously, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.
Commissioned into the fighter branch of the Indian Air Force on June 11, 1988, Air Marshal Walia has held numerous command and staff positions throughout his nearly four-decade career. He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron and the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE). He has also served as the Air Officer Commanding at Air Force Station Bareilly.
Walia has undergone advanced command and staff training in the UK and has attended the National Defence College in Bangladesh. He has previously held the position of Director of Air Staff Inspection and served as the Defence Attaché at the Indian embassies in Japan and South Korea. Additionally, he has been a senior air personnel officer in the Eastern Air Command and has a keen interest in education.
His academic credentials include three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies. For his exceptional service, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.
Notably, he succeeds Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who took charge as the 29th Chief of Air Staff on October 31.
