Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Oct 29, 2013 The Government has appointed Air Marshal Arup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC,  presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC on December 31, 2013. Air Marshal Raha was commissioned into the IAF on December 14, 1974 in the Fighter Stream of the Flying Branch.  During a career spanning over nearly 39 years, he has held various command, staff and instructional appointments.  He has served as Air Attache at the Embassy of India, Ukraine.  Besides various technical courses, Air Marshal Raha has done National Defence College, Staff College, Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course and Junior Commanders’ Course.  He has commanded Central Air Command and Western Air Command.  He is one of the Honorary ADCs to the Supreme Commander.

As India’s present Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, retires from service on March 31, 2010, Lt Gen VK Singh, presently GOC-in-C, Eastern Command will take over as the next Chief of the Army Staff in the rank of General starting the same day. Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment in 1970. During his long career, he has serviced in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. Besides being an ‘Honours Graduate’ of the US Army Infantry School, Georgia, U.S, Singh studied at the Defense Services Staff College, the Army War College and the U.S Army War College, Carlisle.