Air Marshal VR Chaudhari to be the next Chief of Air Staff

The government has appointed Air Marshal V R Chaudhari as the next Chief of Air Staff. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, who retires from service on September 30.

Chaudhari is currently the Vice Chief of Air Staff in the Indian Air Force.

Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on December 29, 1982, and has held various command, staff and instructional appointments at various levels, the government said in a statement.

He has held the coveted appointments of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer at Eastern Air Command.

Chaudhari who has a flying experience of more than 3800 hrs has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.