Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force who served as the 27th Chief of the Air Staff, the service's highest-ranking post, from 30 September 2021 to 30 September 2024.[1][2] Commissioned into the fighter stream on 29 December 1982 as part of the 130th course following training at the National Defence Academy, he accumulated nearly 4,000 hours of flying experience across diverse fighter and trainer aircraft inventories.[1][3] A qualified flying instructor and instrument rating examiner, Chaudhari commanded a frontline fighter squadron and a major fighter base early in his career, demonstrating operational expertise in combat exercises and deployments.[1][4] He progressed to senior leadership roles, including Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, overseeing strategic air operations and force modernization amid regional security challenges.[5][6] Chaudhari's distinguished service earned him the Vayu Sena Medal in 2004 for gallantry and devotion to duty, followed by the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for exceptional leadership in air defense and operational readiness.[1][7] Upon assuming the Chief's role, he prioritized indigenous procurement, squadron strength enhancement, and integrated theater commands to address evolving aerial threats from adversarial neighbors.[4][8]Early life and education
Family background and upbringing
Vivek Ram Chaudhari was born and brought up in Maharashtra, India.[9] His father was Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari.[9] His mother worked as a school headmistress.[9] Limited public details exist regarding his siblings or extended family, reflecting the Indian military's general reticence on personal matters for serving officers.Academic and initial military training
Chaudhari received his initial military training at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakvasla, Pune, as part of the standard tri-service cadet program for future Indian Air Force officers.[10][11] Following NDA, he completed specialized flying training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, qualifying as a fighter pilot in the Flying Branch.[12] He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 29 December 1982, marking the culmination of his foundational military education and marking the start of his operational career with over 3,000 hours of flying experience accumulated thereafter on various aircraft.[10][1] No specific civilian academic qualifications beyond secondary schooling are publicly detailed in official records, consistent with the direct entry pathway for NDA cadets from military-oriented family backgrounds.[9]Military career
Commissioning and early assignments
Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 29 December 1982 as a pilot in the Flying Branch, following his training at the National Defence Academy and the Air Force Academy in Dundigal.[1][10][13] He accumulated early flying experience on trainer and fighter aircraft, qualifying as a Category 'A' flying instructor during this initial phase.[1][14] In his formative assignments, Chaudhari participated in the Indian Air Force's inaugural formation aerobatics team using the Kiran Mk-II trainer aircraft, demonstrating proficiency in precision flying and team coordination.[1] He later served as a flight commander in a fighter squadron, overseeing operational readiness and training of junior pilots in combat maneuvers.[1] Additionally, he functioned as an Air Force examiner on various MiG variants, conducting evaluations and standardizing pilot assessments in frontline operations.[1] These roles built his foundational expertise in fighter aviation, with over 3,800 total flying hours accrued across IAF platforms by the later stages of his career.[1]Squadron and operational commands
Chaudhari commanded No. 28 Squadron, known as the "First Supersonics," a MiG-29 fighter unit based at Jamnagar Air Force Station, from 17 September 2001 to 8 June 2003 as a wing commander.[1] During this tenure, the squadron participated in Operation Parakram, the Indian Armed Forces' mobilization following the 13 December 2001 terrorist attack on the Parliament of India, with deployments at three operational locations.[1] Under his leadership, the squadron executed over 150 sorties, including day and night Operational Readiness Platform (ORP) duties, and conducted Dissimilar Air Combat Training to enhance tactical proficiency against varied threats.[1] This command occurred amid heightened Indo-Pakistani tensions, with the Indian Air Force on high alert, emphasizing rapid response capabilities and deterrence postures along the western border.[1] [15] Chaudhari's prior experience as flight commander in the same squadron during the 1990s, including handling in-flight emergencies such as a mid-air canopy ejection incident in 1994, informed his operational approach.[16] The squadron's MiG-29 fleet, inducted in the late 1980s, focused on air superiority and interception roles, aligning with Chaudhari's over 3,000 flying hours on fighter aircraft including the MiG-29.[1] [17] No additional frontline squadron commands are recorded at this career stage, though Chaudhari later served as Commodore Commandant of No. 28 Squadron from 31 July 2015 to 31 July 2020, providing oversight on training and heritage matters.[1] His squadron leadership contributed to earning the unit's recognition for operational excellence during a period of sustained vigilance.[1]Senior commands and flag officer roles
Chaudhari was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore on 1 September 2009.[1] In this capacity, he initially served as Air-I at Central Air Command in Allahabad from 16 March to 5 August 2009, followed by the role of Air Assistant to the Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters in New Delhi from 6 August 2009 to 29 July 2011.[1] He then commanded 2 Wing at Lohegaon, Pune, as Air Officer Commanding from 30 July 2011 to 30 March 2013, overseeing operations at a key fighter base.[1] Upon promotion to Air Vice Marshal on 1 April 2013, Chaudhari held staff appointments focused on training and operations.[1] [18] He served as Deputy Commandant at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal from 1 April 2013 to 16 November 2014, contributing to officer training programs.[18] Subsequently, as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations, Air Defence) from 17 November 2014 to 30 June 2016, he managed air defense strategies and integration.[18] [1] He later took on the role of Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) until September 2018, emphasizing personnel and operational readiness enhancements.[18] Chaudhari advanced to Air Marshal on 1 October 2018.[1] His senior staff roles included Deputy Chief of Air Staff from October 2018 to September 2019, where he influenced policy on acquisitions and force structure.[18] [1] He then served as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Eastern Air Command in Shillong from 1 October 2019 to 31 July 2020, coordinating regional operations amid border challenges.[1] In August 2020, he assumed command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command in New Delhi, leading forces across a vast operational theater from Bikaner to Ladakh until June 2021, including responses to heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control.[19] [1] He was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July 2021, overseeing day-to-day administration and strategic planning until September 2021.[18] [11] [1]Tenure as Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari assumed the position of Chief of the Air Staff on 30 September 2021, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria at Air Headquarters in New Delhi.[20] [21] His tenure, spanning three years until 30 September 2024, focused on bolstering operational readiness amid ongoing border tensions, particularly along the Line of Actual Control with China.[22] [23] Upon taking charge, Chaudhari prioritized arresting the depletion of Indian Air Force fighter squadrons, which had fallen below the sanctioned strength of 42 to around 30, emphasizing self-reliance in acquisitions and rapid induction of new platforms to maintain combat effectiveness.[22] [24] He advocated for indigenization, innovation, and strengthening cybersecurity, while overseeing the upgrade of existing assets such as the Su-30MKI fleet, with plans to enhance 84 aircraft for improved avionics and weaponry.[25] [26] A significant milestone during his leadership was the induction of the twin-seater Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A trainer variant on 4 October 2023, aimed at enhancing pilot training capabilities for advanced indigenous fighters.[27] Chaudhari also spearheaded Exercise Tarang Shakti in 2024, India's inaugural multinational air combat exercise hosted by the IAF, involving over 30 nations and focusing on interoperability in counter-air operations, reconnaissance, and air mobility; Phase I occurred at Sulur Air Force Station from 6 to 13 August, and Phase II at Jodhpur from 29 August to 14 September.[28] [29] This event underscored the IAF's growing emphasis on joint exercises to foster tactical synergy and showcase platforms like the LCA Tejas.[29] Chaudhari's tenure concluded with his superannuation on 30 September 2024, after which Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh succeeded him as the 28th Chief of the Air Staff.[23] Throughout his service, he logged over 3,800 flying hours on multiple fighter aircraft, including MiG-21, MiG-29, and Su-30MKI, drawing from his extensive operational experience to guide modernization efforts.[30]Dates of rank
Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 29 December 1982.[1][15] His subsequent promotions to substantive ranks were gazetted as follows:| Rank | Date of rank |
|---|---|
| Flying Officer | 29 December 1983 |
| Squadron Leader | 29 December 1993 |
| Wing Commander | 17 May 1999 |
| Group Captain | 1 March 2006 |
| Air Commodore | 1 September 2009 |
| Air Vice Marshal | 1 April 2013 |
| Air Marshal | 1 October 2018 |
| Air Chief Marshal | 30 September 2021 |