Air Marshal Tejpal Singh assumes charge as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff

New Delhi, Aug 1. Air Marshal Tejpal Singh on August 1 assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who retired on July 31 after nearly four decades of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Soon after taking over the appointment, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid tribute to the personnel who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on June 16, 1990, Air Marshal Tejpal Singh has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying experience during his career. He is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot.

Over the course of his service, the Air Marshal has held several key operational, command and staff appointments across the IAF, contributing to the force’s operational preparedness and capability development.

In recognition of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2011 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 by the President of India.

Air Marshal Tejpal Singh succeeds Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who superannuated on July 31 after rendering 39 years of distinguished service to the nation. As Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, he will play a key role in the planning, capability development and operational oversight of the Indian Air Force.