Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati, AVSM, VSM is an officer in the Indian Air Force. Currently, he is serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. He took over the office on 3 October 2021, succeeding of Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.[1]
Early life and education
He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadagwasla and Air Force Academy Hyderabad. He has completed his National Defence Course from Bangladesh and Masters Degree in Military Studies from King's College London.[2]
Career
Jonnalagedda Chalapati was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on December 22, 1983. He has flying experience on various aircraft including HAL Tejas.[3][4]
Chalapati is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot and has about 3311 hrs of operational flight experience. He had served as a test pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited working with DRDO on various projects.
He has held various appointments including Command of an Operational Squadron, commanded the AFS Bagdogra. Served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Center, Aeronautical Development Agency. He was the Commandant at Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
Previous to his present assignment, he had served as Senior Air Staff Officer for the Southern Air Command from 1 August 2020 to 2 October 2021.[5][3]
Honours and decorations
During his career, Jonnalagedda Chalapati has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.[3][6]
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| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vishisht Seva Medal |
Personal life
Jonnalagedda Chalapati is married to Mrs Smitha Gayatri who is President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple is blessed with two children.[4]
References
- ↑ Air Marshal J.Chalapati takes over as SAC chief. The Hindu(2021-10-04).
- ↑ Chalapati takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command. Outlook India(2021-10-04).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati - Bharat Rakshak. Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 AOC-in-C-SAC. Indian Air Force. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Air Marshal Chalapati joins Southern Air Command. New Indian Express(2020-08-04).
- ↑ President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day. PIB(2022-01-25).
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