Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia assumes charge as Senior Air Staff Officer

SHILLONG, Sep 9: Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM, VM, has officially taken over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) of Indian Air Force, on Monday. A seasoned officer with an exceptional career in the Air Force, Air Marshal Walia brings decades of operational experience to the role.
An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Walia was commissioned into the IAF on June 11, 1988. Over the course of his career, he has logged over 3,200 flying hours, commanding a wide range of fighter aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-23 BN, MiG-27, Jaguar, and Su-30 MKI. His leadership has been demonstrated in his command of a frontline fighter squadron and the Tactical and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), as well as his oversight of key IAF bases in the Central Sector.
Beyond his flying and command expertise, Air Marshal Walia has held multiple significant staff positions within the IAF at both Command and Air Headquarters. His experience also extends to international diplomacy, having served as Defence Attaché to Japan. Most recently, he was the Air Defence Commander at Western Air Command.
For his outstanding service, Air Marshal Walia has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2018.