Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM AVSM VM ADC is a retired four-star air officer of the Indian Air Force who served as the Chief of the Air Staff.[3] He took over as the 27th Chief of Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on 30 September 2021.[4] He previously served as the 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[5] He earlier served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command[6] and as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff.[7]
Vivek Ram Chaudhari | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait | |
| 27th Chief of the Air Staff | |
| In office 30 September 2021 – 30 September 2024 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | R. K. S. Bhadauria |
| Succeeded by | Amar Preet Singh |
| 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff | |
| In office 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Harjit Singh Arora |
| Succeeded by | Sandeep Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 September 1962[1] |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari (Father) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 29 December 1982 - 30 September 2024 |
| Rank |  Air Chief Marshal |
| Unit | No. 28 Squadron |
| Commands | Western Air Command Lohegaon Air Force Station 8 Forward Base Support Unit No. 28 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Operation Meghdoot Kargil war |
| Service number | 16978[2] |
| Awards |  Param Vishisht Seva Medal  Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal |
Early life and education
editHe was born to Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari, his mother was a school headmistress. His grandfather was a teacher at the Zila Parishad school at Koli, a village in Hadgaon taluka.[8][9] He studied in primary school at Nanded. He subsequently moved to Pune and enrolled in a military school. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (61st Course), the Air Force Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (DSSC).[10]
Career
editAir Chief Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on 29 December 1982 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. During his illustrious career spanning over four decades, he has held various staff and instructional appointments and served in a wide spectrum of terrain. He is a Category 'A' qualified flying instructor, and Instrument Rating Instructor and examiner. He has a flying experience of over 3800 hours on various fighter aircraft including MiG-21, MiG-23MF, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. He was also a pioneer member of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Display Team.[11] As a fighter pilot, he flew operational missions during Operation Meghdoot and Operation Safed Sagar.[3] He has commanded the MiG-29 squadron, No. 28 Squadron IAF at Jamnagar and the forward base in Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir. He also served as the chief operations officer of the Srinagar Air Force Station.[12]
Flag officer
editAs an Air commodore, he served as the Air assistant to the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. He subsequently commanded the Lohegaon Air base in Pune. He has also served as an instructor at DSSC Wellington as well as Defence Services Command and Staff College at Lusaka, Zambia.[10]
After promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence) at Air headquarters and as the Deputy Commandant at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal.[7] He subsequently was appointed the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). On 2 October 2018 he took over as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters, New Delhi.[7] A year later, on 1 October 2019 he was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command in Shillong.[13]
On 1 August 2020, he took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh.[6] A year later, on 1 July 2021 he took over as the 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora who superannuated from service on 30 June 2021.[5]
Chief of Air Staff
editOn 21 September 2021, the Government of India appointed Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next Chief of the Air Staff.[4] On 30 September 2021, he took over as the 27th Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.[14] He retired on 30 September 2024 after four decades of service and was succeeded by Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh.[15]
Honours and decorations
editDuring his career, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2004, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 [2] and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021[16] for his service.
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Personal life
editHe is married to Neeta Chaudhari. They have two sons.[7] His son Mihir Chaudhary is also an officer in Indian Air Force.[17]
Dates of rank
edit| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pilot Officer | Indian Air Force | 29 December 1982 |
 |
Flying Officer | Indian Air Force | 29 December 1983[18] |
|
Flight Lieutenant | Indian Air Force | 21 December 1987[18] |
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Squadron Leader | Indian Air Force | 29 December 1993[18] |
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Wing Commander | Indian Air Force | 17 May 1999[18] |
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Group Captain | Indian Air Force | 1 March 2006[18] |
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Air Commodore | Indian Air Force | 1 September 2009[18] |
 |
Air Vice Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 April 2013[18] |
 |
Air Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 October 2018 (AOC-in-C from 1 August 2020)[18] |
| |
Air Chief Marshal (CAS) |
Indian Air Force | 30 September 2021[19] |
References
edit- ^ "CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF". Indian Air Force. 30 September 2021.
- ^ a b "President Confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 26 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari takes over as Indian Air Force chief".
- ^ a b "Air Marshal V R Chaudhari appointed next Chief of Air Staff". PIB. 21 September 2021.
- ^ a b "AIR MARSHAL VIVEK RAM CHAUDHARI PVSM AVSM VM ASSUMES CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF". PIB. 1 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM Assumes Command of Western Air Command". 1 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM takes over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff". 2 October 2018.
- ^ Online, Lokmat (22 September 2021). "नांदेडचे सुपुत्र एअर मार्शल व्ही. आर. चाैधरी हाेणार नवे वायुसेना प्रमुख" [Air Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, sonnof Nanded going to become new Air chief.]. Lokmat. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "नांदेडचे भूमिपुत्र होणार हवाईदल प्रमुख! Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be next IAF Chief". 24 September 2021.
- ^ a b https://indianairforce.nic.in/chief-of-the-air-staff/
- ^ "Air Marshal V R Chaudhari to take over as chief of IAF's Western Air Command". The Economic Times. 25 July 2020.
- ^ "Service Record for Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari 16978 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak.
- ^ @proshillong (3 October 2019). "Air Mshl VR Chaudhari AVSM VM took over as Senior Air Staff Officer at EAC, #Shillong on 03 Oct 19. He is a Cat-A QFI,with over 3800 hrs of flying exp on various fighter aircraft. Prior to this assignment,he was the DCAS at Air HQ" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari Takes Charge As New Air Force Chief". NDTV.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Amar Preet Singh", Wikipedia, 10 October 2024, retrieved 10 October 2024
- ^ "President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". PIB. 25 January 2021.
- ^ "IAF chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Ready for any eventuality, focus on being atmanirbhar".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Service Record of Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari". Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari Takes Over as the Chief of the Air Staff". Indian Air Force. New Delhi. 30 September 2021.