New Delhi: Air Marshal Vivek Ram (VR) Chaudhari will be the new Chief of Air Staff after Air Chief Marshal RK Bhadauria retires September 30. At present Vivek Ram Chaudhari is currently the Vice Chief of Air Staff in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF December 29, 1982. He has held various command, staff and instructional appointments at various levels, the government said in a statement released Tuesday. During his service, Chaudhari has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal.
“The government has decided to appoint Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, September 30,” the Defence Ministry said in a brief statement.
Before becoming Vice Chief of the IAF, he was serving as commander-in-chief of the Western Air Command (WAC) that looks after the security of Indian air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of north India.
Chaudhari He has a flying experience of more than 3,800 hours, including operational flying on MiG-21, MiG-23 MF, MiG 29 and Su-30 MKI fighter jets. He was the commanding officer of a frontline fighter squadron and has also commanded a frontline fighter base.
Apart from various operational issues, Air Marshal Chaudhari will have to also address matters related to the ambitious theaterisation model of the Armed Forces.
The theatre commands are being planned to integrate the capabilities of the three services and to ensure optimal utilisation of their resources. The theatre commands are being set up under a larger mandate of ensuring synergy among the three service chiefs to deal with future security challenges.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat has been focusing on bringing convergence among the three services and restructuring military
Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria will retire exactly two years after his appointment to the top post September 30, 2019.