Air Marshal VR Chaudhari appointed IAF’s new Chief

The Government has appointed Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next Chief of Air Staff. He will assume charge after Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria retires on September 30. Currently he is the Vice Chief of Air Staff, which he took over on July 1 from Air Marshal HS Arora. Air Marshal Chaudhari was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command from August 1, 2020. Decorated with Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal, the Air Officer has held various command, staff and instructional appointments at various levels.  Defence Ministry spokesman A Bharat Bhushan Babu tweeted.

Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM presently Vice Chief of Air Staff as the next Chief of Air Staff. Current Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC retires from Service on 30th Sep 2021

— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) September 21, 2021

Commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1982, he has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft, including missions flown during Operation Meghdoot, the Air Force’s support to capture Siachen glacier in 1980s, and Operation Safed Sagar.