Inderpal Singh Walia Appointed Vice Chief of Air Staff

New Delhi, November 1: Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He assumed the office on Sunday, November 1.

On this occasion, he went to the National War Memorial and paid respects to the martyrs who gave their lives for the nation. A formal guard of honour was also accorded to him.

Walia is a highly experienced fighter pilot. His flying career includes the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and all versions of the Su-30MKI.

He was previously the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command. A National Defence Academy graduate, he was commissioned into the IAF's fighter stream on June 11, 1988.

Over nearly four decades of service, Walia has held a range of command and staff roles. These include leading a frontline fighter squadron, heading the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and commanding Air Force Station Bareilly.

He has attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College in Bangladesh. Earlier, he led the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection and served as Defence Attache in Japan and South Korea. He also worked as Senior Air Staff Officer in the Eastern Air Command.

Walia holds three postgraduate degrees in defence and strategic studies. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018.

His appointment follows the change of command at the top of the IAF, as Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31.