{{Short description|27th Chief of the Air Staff (India) (born 1962)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Chief Marshal | name = Vivek Ram Chaudhari | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}} | image = Chief of the air staff ACM Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait | office = 27th Chief of the Air Staff | term_start = {{Start date|2021|09|30|df=yes}} | term_end = {{Start date|2024|09|30|df=yes}} | president = {{ubl|Ram Nath Kovind|Droupadi Murmu}} | predecessor = R. K. S. Bhadauria | successor = Amar Preet Singh | office1 = 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff | term_start1 = {{Start date|2021|07|01|df=yes}} | term_end1 = {{End date|2021|09|30|df=yes}} | predecessor1 = Harjit Singh Arora | successor1 = Sandeep Singh | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|09|04|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/#section-114-24|title=CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF|publisher=Indian Air Force|date=2021-09-30}}</ref> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | death_place = | nickname = | birth_place = | allegiance = {{flag|India}} | branch = {{air force|India}} | service_years = 29 December 1982 - 30 September 2024 | rank = 25px Air Chief Marshal | military_blank1 = Service number | military_data1 = 16978<ref name="avsm"/> | unit = No. 28 Squadron | commands = Western Air Command<br />Lohegaon Air Force Station<br />8 Forward Base Support Unit<br />No. 28 Squadron | battles = Operation Meghdoot<br />Kargil war | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = 20px Param Vishisht Seva Medal <br /> 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal<br />20px Vayu Sena Medal | laterwork = | other_name = | memorials = | module = | country = India | parents = Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari (Father) | children = 2 }}
Air Chief Marshal '''Vivek Ram Chaudhari''', {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM|AVSM|VM|ADC}} is a retired four-star air officer of the Indian Air Force who served as the Chief of the Air Staff.<ref name="IndiaToday" /> He took over as the 27th Chief of Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on 30 September 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=21 September 2021 |title=Air Marshal V R Chaudhari appointed next Chief of Air Staff |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1756814 |website=PIB}}</ref> He previously served as the 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=2021-07-01 |title=AIR MARSHAL VIVEK RAM CHAUDHARI PVSM AVSM VM ASSUMES CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1731870 |publisher=PIB}}</ref> He earlier served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1642858|title= Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM Assumes Command of Western Air Command|date=2020-08-01}}</ref> and as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff.<ref name="dcas-pib" />
== Early life and education == He was born to Rambhau Ganapat Chaudhari, his mother was a school headmistress. His grandfather was a teacher at the Zila Parishad school at Koli, a village in Hadgaon taluka.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Online|first=Lokmat|date=22 September 2021|title=नांदेडचे सुपुत्र एअर मार्शल व्ही. आर. चाैधरी हाेणार नवे वायुसेना प्रमुख|trans-title=Air Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, sonnof Nanded going to become new Air chief.|work=Lokmat|url=https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/nandeds-son-v-r-chaidhary-will-be-new-air-chief-marshal-a653/|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lokmat.com/videos/national/bhumiputra-nanded-be-air-chief-air-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-be-next-iaf-chief-a678/|title=नांदेडचे भूमिपुत्र होणार हवाईदल प्रमुख! Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be next IAF Chief|date=24 September 2021}}</ref> He studied in primary school at Nanded. He subsequently moved to Pune and enrolled in a military school. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (61st Course), the Air Force Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (DSSC).<ref name=":3">https://indianairforce.nic.in/chief-of-the-air-staff/</ref>
==Career==
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on 29 December 1982 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. During his career spanning over four decades, he has held various staff and instructional appointments and served in a wide spectrum of terrain. He is a Category 'A' qualified flying instructor, and Instrument Rating Instructor and examiner. He has a flying experience of over 3800 hours on various fighter aircraft including MiG-21, MiG-23MF, MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. He was also a pioneer member of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Display Team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/air-marshal-v-r-chaudhari-to-take-over-as-chief-of-iafs-western-air-command/articleshow/77157744.cms|title=Air Marshal V R Chaudhari to take over as chief of IAF's Western Air Command|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=2020-07-25}}</ref> As a fighter pilot, he flew operational missions during Operation Meghdoot and Operation Safed Sagar.<ref name = IndiaToday>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vivek-ram-chaudhari-indian-air-force-iaf-chief-1859095-2021-09-30|title = Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari takes over as Indian Air Force chief}}</ref> He has commanded the MiG-29 squadron, No. 28 Squadron IAF at Jamnagar and the forward base in Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir. He also served as the chief operations officer of the Srinagar Air Force Station.<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Record for Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari 16978 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16978 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>
===Flag officer=== As an Air commodore, he served as the Air assistant to the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. He subsequently commanded the Lohegaon Air base in Pune. He has also served as an instructor at DSSC Wellington as well as Defence Services Command and Staff College at Lusaka, Zambia.<ref name=":3" />
After promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence) at Air headquarters and as the Deputy Commandant at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal.<ref name="dcas-pib">{{cite web|date=2018-10-02|title=Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM takes over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=183889}}</ref> He subsequently was appointed the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). On 2 October 2018 he took over as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters, New Delhi.<ref name="dcas-pib" /> A year later, on 1 October 2019 he was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command in Shillong.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1179967636622307328 |user=proshillong |title=Air Mshl VR Chaudhari AVSM VM took over as Senior Air Staff Officer at EAC, #Shillong on 03 Oct 19. He is a Cat-A QFI, with over 3800 hrs of flying exp on various fighter aircraft. Prior to this assignment, he was the DCAS at Air HQ. |date=2019-10-03}}</ref>
On 1 August 2020, he took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh.<ref name=":2" /> A year later, on 1 July 2021 he took over as the 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora who superannuated from service on 30 June 2021.<ref name=":1" />
===Chief of Air Staff=== On 21 September 2021, the Government of India appointed Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari as the next Chief of the Air Staff.<ref name=":0" /> On 30 September 2021, he took over as the 27th Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari Takes Charge As New Air Force Chief |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-chief-marshal-vivek-ram-chaudhari-takes-charge-as-new-air-force-chief-2559272 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He retired on 30 September 2024 after four decades of service and was succeeded by Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh.<ref>{{Citation |title=Amar Preet Singh |date=2024-10-10 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_Preet_Singh#cite_note-:2-2 |access-date=2024-10-10 |language=en}}</ref>thumb|CAS VR Chaudhari at 91st Air Force Day Parade
== Honours and decorations == During his career, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2004, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 <ref name="avsm">{{cite web |date=2015-04-26 |title=President Confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=118733 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref> and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021<ref>{{cite web |date=25 January 2021 |title=President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692363 |publisher=PIB}}</ref> for his service.
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|type=award-star}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg}} | |- | colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Vijay_star.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=75yearmedal.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="2" |Param Vishisht Seva Medal | colspan="2" |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |- |Vayu Sena Medal | colspan="2" |Samanya Seva Medal |Operation Vijay Star |- | colspan="1" |Special Service Medal | colspan="1" |Siachen Glacier Medal | colspan="1" |Operation Vijay Medal |Operation Parakram Medal |- |Sainya Seva Medal |High Altitude Service Medal |Videsh Seva Medal |75th Anniversary of Independence Medal |- |50th Independence Anniversary Medal |30 Years Long Service Medal |20 Years Long Service Medal | colspan="2" |9 Years Long Service Medal |}
== Personal life == He is married to Neeta Chaudhari. They have two sons.<ref name="dcas-pib" /> His son Mihir Chaudhary is also an officer in Indian Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IAF chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Ready for any eventuality, focus on being atmanirbhar |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chief-vivek-ram-chaudhari-china-border-fighter-aircraft-atmanirbhar-1859449-2021-10-01}}</ref>
==Dates of rank== {|class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank |- | align="center" |64x64px |Pilot Officer |Indian Air Force |29 December 1982 |- |align="center" |64x64px|| Flying Officer || Indian Air Force || 29 December 1983<ref name=dateofrank>{{cite web |title=Service Record of Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16978 |access-date=11 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Flight Lieutenant |Indian Air Force |21 December 1987<ref name="dateofrank" /> |- |align="center" |64x64px|| Squadron Leader || Indian Air Force || 29 December 1993<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |64x64px|| Wing Commander || Indian Air Force || 17 May 1999<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |64x64px|| Group Captain || Indian Air Force || 1 March 2006<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |65x65px|| Air Commodore || Indian Air Force || 1 September 2009<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |65x65px|| Air Vice Marshal || Indian Air Force || 1 April 2013<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |65x65px|| Air Marshal || Indian Air Force || 1 October 2018 (AOC-in-C from 1 August 2020)<ref name=dateofrank/> |- |align="center" |65x65px|| Air Chief Marshal<br />(CAS) || Indian Air Force || 30 September 2021<ref>{{cite web |location=New Delhi |date=30 September 2021 |title=Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari Takes Over as the Chief of the Air Staff |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/air-chief-marshal-vr-chaudhari-takes-over-as-the-chief-of-the-air-staff/ |website=Indian Air Force |language=en}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}}{{Succession box | title = Chief of Air Staff | years = 30 September 2021 - 30 September 2024 | before = R. K. S. Bhadauria | after = Amar Preet Singh }}{{Succession box | title = Vice Chief of Air Staff | years = 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021 | before = Harjit Singh Arora | after = Sandeep Singh }}{{Succession box | title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command | years = 1 August 2020 – 30 June 2021 | before = Balakrishnan Suresh | after = Balabhadra Radha Krishna }}{{Succession box | title = Senior Air Staff Officer Eastern Air Command | years = 1 October 2019 – 31 July 2020 | before = Sandeep Singh | after = Gurcharan Singh Bedi }} {{Succession box | title = Deputy Chief of the Air Staff | years = 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019 | before = Raghunath Nambiar | after = Sandeep Singh }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaudhari, Vivek Ram}} Category:Living people Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (India) Category:Vice chiefs of Air Staff (India) Category:Indian Air Force air marshals Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Marathi people Category:People from Nanded district Category:1962 births Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Air Force Academy (India) alumni Category:Deputy chiefs of Air Staff (India)