Inderpal Singh Walia

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Air Marshal
Inderpal Singh Walia
AVSM VM
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia.jpg
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Eastern Air Command
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2026
Service Number19518 [1]
Awards

Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM, VM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command. [2] He previously served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

The Air officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of the Advanced Command and Staff Course, United Kingdom and the National Defence College, Bangladesh. [2]

Military Career

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy. [4] In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 3200 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held numerous command & staff appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot and an Instrument Rating Instructor & Examiner (IRIE). He has flown various fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force which include variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30 MKI. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of No. 222 Squadron and was the Commandant of Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE). He also served as the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Japan. [5]

As an Air Commodore, he served as the Air-1 at Eastern Air Command, [6] as the Air Officer Commanding of 15 Wing, Bareilly [7] and later as the Air Commodore (Air Staff Inspection) at the Air headquarters, New Delhi. [8] As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Training [9] and as the Air Officer Commanding of 1 Air Defence Control Centre. [10]

After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, on 9 September 2024 he took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command at Shillong. [11] On 1 February 2026, Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Surat Singh when the latter superannuated on 31 January 2026. [12]

Awards and decorations

During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018 [13] and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008. [14]

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg IND Samanya Seva medal.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg
IND Operation Parakram medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg 75yearmedal.svg
IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of ranks

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Indian IAF OF-1a.svg Pilot Officer Indian Air Force11 June 1988 [4]
Indian IAF OF-1b.svg Flying Officer Indian Air Force11 June 1989 [4]
Indian IAF OF-2.svg Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force11 June 1993 [4]
Indian IAF OF-3.svg Squadron Leader Indian Air Force11 June 1995 [4]
Indian IAF OF-4.svg Wing Commander Indian Air Force18 October 2004 [4]
Indian IAF OF-5.svg Group Captain Indian Air Force1 April 2010 [4]
Indian IAF OF-6.svg Air Commodore Indian Air Force1 March 2016 [4]
Indian IAF OF-7.svg Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force31 August 2021 [4]
Indian IAF OF-8.svg Air Marshal Indian Air Force9 September 2024 (AOC-in-C from 1 February 2026) [4]

References

  1. ↑ "The President has approved awards of 390 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 69th Republic Day Celebrations". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 Delhi, PIB (1 February 2026). "AIR MARSHAL INDERPAL SINGH WALIA TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF EASTERN AIR COMMAND". pib.gov.in.
  3. ↑ "Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia assumes charge as Senior Air Staff OfficerThe Shillong Times". 10 September 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Service Record of Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia 19518 F(P)". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "Embassy of India, Japan, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Air-I Appointments at Eastern Air Command". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Air Officer Commanding of 15 Wing". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Air Commodore (Air Staff Inspection) at Air HQ". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Assistant Chiefs of Air Staff, Training". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "Air Officer Commanding of 1 Air Defence Control Centre". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  11. ↑ NEWS, NE NOW (9 September 2024). "Meghalaya: Air Marshal Inderpal Walia assumes appointment as IAF EAC operations head". NorthEast Now. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. ↑ MCC, IAF (1 February 2026). "Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia assumed command of Eastern Air Command, IAF, on 01 Feb 2026". X (formerly twitter).
  13. ↑ "The President has approved awards of 390 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 69th Republic Day Celebrations". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations 2008". PIB. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
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