AIR MARSHAL INDERPAL SINGH WALIA APPOINTED AS THE VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF

Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM VM is appointed as Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) from 01 November 2026. Presently, he is the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command.

The Air Officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned n the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 11 Jun 88. He is qualified on all variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI. In a career spanning almost four decades, the Air Officer has tenanted various command and staff appointments. He has commanded a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and was Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bareilly. He has undergone the Advanced Command & Staff Course in the UK and the NDC in Bangladesh. He has headed the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) of the IAF, served as the Defence Attache at the Embassy of Japan and South Korea, and was the Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command.

He is an avid reader and holds three Post-Graduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies. In recognition of distinguished service, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018. He takes over from Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who will be taking over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026.

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JS/VK/SM