Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC was appointed as the 26th Indian Air Force (IAF) chief by the government on Thursday. Air Marshal Bhadauria will take charge from Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa who is scheduled to retire on September 30. Air Marshal Bhadauria will serve as the chief of IAF for next two years. He is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Air Marshal Bhadauria assumed the office on May 1, 2019, after superannuation of Air Marshal Anil Khosla. Admiral Karambir Singh Takes Charge As 24th Naval Chief; Indian Navy Gives Emotional Farewell to Admiral Sunil Lanba, Watch Video.
Interestingly, Air Marshal Bhadauria was also set to retire on the September 30 this year, but he has given two years of extension and now will be retiring in 2021 at 62 years of age. He has over 4250 hours of flying on 26 types of fighters and transport aircraft. Air Marshal Bhadauria is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune and holds a Masters in Defence studies from Command and Staff College. He was commissioned in fighter stream of the IAF on June 15, 1980, and was recipient of ‘Sword of Honour’.
Air Marshal Bhadauria held various Command, Staff and Instructional Appointments at various levels including the present one as Vice Chief of Air Staff. This Air Officer is decorated with PVSM, AVSM, VM and he is one of the ADCs to the supreme Commander. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Flies Joint Sortie With IAF Chief BS Dhanoa From Pathankot Airbase.
He also commanded Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft & System Testing Establishment (ASTE) and was the Project Director of National Flight Test Centre on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. As Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS), he was instrumental in the finalisation of contract of Rafale aircraft for IAF. Air Marshal Bhadauri also headed a frontline deep strike Jaguar Squadron and a frontline fighter base in South Western sector. Bhadauria is from Korath, a village near Agra.
(Picture Courtesy: Twitter/Indian Air Force)
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