Air Marshal J. Chalapati took over as the Commandant of Air Force Academy from Air Marshal A.S. Butola on Monday.
Prior to assuming the command of Air Force Academy, the Air Marshal was Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters.
An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy Khadakwasla, Air Marshal Chalapati was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in flying branch on December 22, 1983.
A qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot, he has flown about 3,300 hours of operational and test flying on various types of fighter, transport and helicopters.
In his 35-year career in the Indian Air Force, he held key appointments including Chief Operations Officer, Commanding Officer of Air Force Test Pilots School, Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Centre, etc.
He is also a winner of the Presidential Award of Vishisht Seva Medal.
