Inderpal Singh Walia

Air Marshal
Inderpal Singh Walia
AVSM VM
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Eastern Air Command
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2026
Chief of Air StaffAmar Preet Singh
Preceded bySurat Singh
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service11 June 1988 - Present
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo. 222 Squadron
Commands
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]

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 11 June 1988 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 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

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Pilot Officer Indian Air Force 11 June 1988[4]
Flying Officer Indian Air Force 11 June 1989[4]
Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force 11 June 1993[4]
Squadron Leader Indian Air Force 11 June 1995[4]
Wing Commander Indian Air Force 18 October 2004[4]
Group Captain Indian Air Force 1 April 2010[4]
Air Commodore Indian Air Force 1 March 2016[4]
Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force 31 August 2021[4]
Air Marshal Indian Air Force 9 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "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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