In another high-profile appointment, Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa was appointed the next Air Force chief. He will assume office on 31st December when Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha retires.
Here are few interesting points about the new Air Force chief designate:
- Air Marshal BS Dhanoa is a Kargil war veteran and is a proud recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2015, Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Vayusena Medal (VM) in 1999, among others.
- He took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 01 June 2015. Prior to being appointed as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Air Marshal was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South-Western Air Command.
- He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College and went to National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
- He was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot from Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.
- Air Marshal Dhanoa is a Qualified Flying Instructor and has flown various types of fighter aircraft in his distinguished career.
- During the Kargil Operations, he commanded a fighter squadron and himself flew numerous night strike missions in the mountainous terrain.
- He has the distinction of having held a number of the important operational appointments including Station Commander of a fighter base and leader of an Indian Military Training Team abroad.
- He has also served as Chief Instructor (Air) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters and Senior Air Staff Officer of two operational Commands.
- He is married to Mrs Kamalpreet and they have a son Jasman who is pursuing law.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat has been appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.
