Harjit Singh Arora

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora PVSM, AVSM, ADC is the current Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and assumed office on 1 October 2019, succeeding Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.[2][3]


Harjit Singh Arora

43rd Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Assumed office
1 October 2019
Preceded byRakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Personal details
Born (1961-06-25) June 25, 1961
Spouse(s)Baljeet Arora
Children2 sons
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of serviceDecember 1981 - Present
Rank Air Marshal
CommandsVice Chief of the Air Staff
South Western Air Command
Director General Air Operations
Director General of Inspection and Safety
Service number16557[1]
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Early life and education

Arora is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He is a graduate from the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior. He also has an M. Phil. in defence and strategic studies.

Career

Arora was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in December 1981. He has flying experience of over 2600 hours on Mig-21, Mig-29, and also helicopters.[4]

Arora has commanded a Mig-21 squadron and then Air Defence Direction Center as a Group Captain in the south western sector. He has also commanded 45 Squadron as a wing commander. He has held other posts including air officer commanding of the Adampur Air Force Station, air defence commander at Western Air Command Headquarters, air defence commander at Eastern Air Command Headquarters, directing staff at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and as a flying inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. He also served as a defence attaché at the Indian embassy at Bangkok from 2006 to 2009.[4][5]

Arora served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command from 30 September 2018 after superannuation of Air Marshal Ravinder Kumar Dhir, to 30 September 2019. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia.[5][6][7][8]

He was appointed as the Vice Chief of Air Staff on 28 September 2019 following elevation of Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhaduria as Chief of Air Staff.[9]

Honours and decorations

In his career of over 38 years, Arora has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2011 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2020.[1][10]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Personal life

Arora is married to Baljeet; the couple have two sons.[4]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Vice Chief of Air Staff
1 October 2019 - Present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Ravinder Kumar Dhir
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command
30 September 2018 - 30 September 2019
Succeeded by
Surendra Kumar Ghotia
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