Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took charge as the 22nd Chief of the Air Staff (CoAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
He succeeded Arup Raha who retires from the service. He is the third person from Sikh community to head the IAF after Arjan Singh and Dilbag Singh. Prior to this appointment he was Vice-Chief of IAF.
About Birender Singh Dhanoa
He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and National Defence Academy (NDA).
He was commissioned into the fighter stream of IAF in June 1978. Since then he has served in various squadrons, and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.
Before being appointed as Vice Chief he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command.
Earlier, he had served as Chief Instructor (Air) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters and Senior Air Staff Officer of two operational Commands.
He had commanded a fighter squadron and had flown numerous night-strike missions during the Kargil operations in the mountainous terrain.
He is recipient of Presidential awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal and Vayusena Medal for his distinguished services.
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