The Government appointed Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa as the next Air Force chief. Air Marshal B S Dhanoa will replace Air  Chief Marshal Arup Raha on December 31st.

Air Marshal B S Dhanoa attended St.Michaels high school, Patna before joining RIMC and is an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun and was graduated from National Defence Academy. He has also attended a staff course in Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in 1992. Dhanoa was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force in June 1978.

Commands held :

• Vice Chief of the Air Staff
• South Western Air Command

Battles/Wars : Kargil War

Awards : Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)
Vayu Sena Medal (VSM)