Mere Mentor at 15:53, 3 May 2026

2026-05-03T15:53:03Z

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{{Short description|Indian retired air vice marshal and business executive}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| name = A. J. S. Walia
| honorific_suffix = [[AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
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| image =
| image_size = 250px
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| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| service_years = 1969 - 2005
| rank = [[File:India-AirForce-OF-7-collected.svg|30px]] [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
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| awards = [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br/>[[File:Vayusena_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Vayu Sena Medal]]
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}}

[[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] '''Arvind Jeet Singh Walia''' also known as '''A. J. S. Walia''' is an aviation [[business executive]] and a former [[air officer]] of the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dey |first=Sudipto |date=2007-01-31 |title=Corporate jet makers woo high fliers |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/corporate-jet-makers-woo-high-fliers/articleshow/1541675.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-08-08 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-14 |title=Sodiers in Business |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/sodiers-in-business/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Education ==
Walia is an alumnus of [[College of Defence Management]] and attended the 22nd Long Defence Management Course in 1992 as a [[wing commander]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Service Record for Air Vice Marshal Arvind Jeet Singh Walia 12155 A&SD at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/12155 |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== IAF career ==
Walia was commissioned into [[Indian Air Force]] on 27 December 1969. He was described as "''versatile and innovative Administrative Officer who has constantly exhibited a very high degree of professionalism and administrative acumen throughout his career''" in VSM awarding ceremony.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Government of India |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gazette.central.w.2002-06-29.114214 |title=Union Government, Weekly, 2002-06-29, Part I-Section 1, Ref. 109-Pres-2002 |date=2002-06-29}}</ref>

He was the Chief Administrative Officer at Tezpur and Guwahati. Under his tenure, the Stations were adjudged as "Best in Administration" of Eastern Air Command headquarters. He was also adjudged as the 1994-95's "'''Best Chief Administrative Officer'''" of the [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]. He was also commended by the Chief of Air Staff two times in 1980 and in 1990 for his administrative services.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

As an air commodore, Walia handled presentations of Air Force Day also known as the Investiture Parade. He was also involved in air force activities on national functions like Independence Day, Republic Day and Vijay Diwas.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Government of India |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gazette.central.w.2005-04-09.112 |title=Union Government, Weekly, 2005-04-09, Part I-Section 1, Ref. No. 18-Pres./2005 |date=2005-04-09}}</ref>

On republic day awarding ceremony, his service years were noted as, "''With his in depth knowledge, ingenuity and meticulous planning, he has ensured initiation of a vast variety of infrastructural works keeping pace with the induction of latest high technological systems for the modernization of the Air Force."''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

He was also credited for projects like the induction of AJTs, development of airfields at Phalodi and Deesa. He with his team successfully launched the largest ever "Capital Works Plan" of the Indian Air Force in 2003–04 with the result in providing a threshold and modernization needs of the Air Force.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== Posts held ==
* 1980s -1990's: Administrative Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Eastern Air Command<ref name=":0" />
* 14 Jun 2001 - 31 Mar 2003: As Air Commodore, Director of Organisation & Ceremonial, Air Headquarters, Delhi<ref name=":0" />
* 01 Apr 2003 - 30 Apr 2005: As Air Vice Marshal, Assistant Chief of Air Staff - Works, Air Headquarters in Delhi<ref name=":0" />

== Business ==
After retirement, he started his new career as a business executive. During his tenure, he worked to bring western manufacturing to India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-16 |title=We?ll make first Made-in-India helicopter by 2016 |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/well-make-first-made-in-india-helicopter-by-2016/924511/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-10-22 |title=IGA to represent Sikorsky in India |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/iga-to-represent-sikorsky-in-india/story-6ycyjjcCIWp5xJtW6olKWP.html |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-17 |title=Air Vice Marshal AJS Walia Archives |url=https://stratpost.com/tag/air-vice-marshal-ajs-walia/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=StratPost |language=en-US}}</ref> He became the CEO of Aerostar Aviation. Then, he joined the American defense manufacturer [[Sikorsky Aircraft]] with post of managing director of India and South Asia. His work as Indian divisions director included [[Sikorsky Aircraft]] to get major defense contracts from India. He also worked to bring contracts of [[Indian Navy]] and establish Silorsky in the Indian market. He also noted that the major competitors in their bid to get [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk]] project in [[India]] included the [[United States Navy]] and [[Lockheed Martin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magnier |first=Mark |date=2009-10-07 |title=Cockpit, indeed. Feathers fly aloft |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-07-fg-cockpit-brawl7-story.html |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |last5= |first5= |title=Will city police fall for helicopter shot? |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/-sikorsky-aircraft-corporation-s-76-helicopterhelicopter-black-hawk-helicopters/articleshow/46335786.cms |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Praveena |title=Sikorsky sees big opportunity in homeland security in India |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-sikorsky-sees-big-opportunity-in-homeland-security-in-india-1432302 |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Saurabh |date=2010-04-11 |title=Sikorsky ready to build military choppers in India |url=https://stratpost.com/sikorsky-ready-to-build-military-choppers-in-india/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=StratPost |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards ==
As an [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]], he was awarded the [[Vayu Sena Medal]] in 2002. He was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] in the republic day honours of 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awardee List for the year 2005 , Indian Air Force - Database |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/awards/awards.php?qyear=2005&qaward=&qunit=&qname=&qnum= |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walia, A. J. S.}}
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

A. J. S. Walia - Revision history

Mere Mentor at 15:53, 3 May 2026