Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM and VM, has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force, effective November 1, 2026. He succeeds Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who takes over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.
Currently serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command, Walia is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned into the IAF’s Fighter Stream on June 11, 1988, and is qualified to fly several aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar and Su-30MKI.
During his nearly four-decade career, he has held several important operational and staff appointments. These include commanding a frontline fighter squadron, the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), and Air Force Station Bareilly.
His international assignments include serving as Defence Attaché at India’s Embassy in Japan and South Korea. He has also completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College course in Bangladesh. An avid reader, Walia holds three postgraduate degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies.
His distinguished service has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018. His appointment brings extensive operational, leadership and strategic experience to the IAF’s senior command structure
