{{Short description|Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Marshal | name = Yalla Umesh | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|VSM|Phd}} | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Air Marshal Yalla Umesh.jpg | image_size = 235px | alt = | caption = | office = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief<br>Maintenance Command | term_start = 1 December 2025 | term_end = | 1blankname = Chief of Air Staff | 1namedata = Amar Preet Singh | predecessor = Vijay Kumar Garg | successor = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} if dead --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | death_place = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_place = | allegiance = {{Country|India}} | branch = {{Air force|India}} | service_years = 4 September 1989 – Present | rank = 24px Air Marshal | military_blank1 = Service number | military_data1 = 20233 AE(M) | unit = | commands = {{plainlist| * 15px Maintenance Command * 7 Base Repair Depot * }} | battles = | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = {{plainlist| * 20px Vishisht Seva Medal }} | spouse = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = | other_name = | memorials = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = | alma_mater = }} Air Marshal '''Yalla Umesh,''' VSM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Dec 2025 |title=AIR MARSHAL YALLA UMESH ASSUMES CHARGE OF IAF'S MAINTENANCE COMMAND |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2196863&reg=3&lang=2 |access-date=12 Dec 2025 |website=PIB}}</ref> He previously served as Director General (Aircraft).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agency |first=India Strategic Staff/ |date=2025-12-01 |title=Air Marshal Yalla Umesh assumes charge of IAF's Maintenance Command |url=https://www.indiastrategic.in/air-marshal-yalla-umesh-assumes-charge-of-iafs-maintenance-command/ |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=India Strategic |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also the Commodore Commandant of 25 Squadron.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Maintenance Command, IAF |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/commands}}</ref>

== Early life and education == The air officer is an alumnus of the College of Defence Management and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He holds a Doctorate in Management, Post Graduate degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management, and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.<ref name=":1" />

== Military career == He was commissioned into the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force on 4 September 1989.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Service Record for Air Marshal Umesh Yalla 20233 AE(M) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/20233 |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref> He is a 'Category A' aeronautical engineer and has held diverse engineering and leadership appointments across major combat, transport and specialist fleets of the Indian Air Force. During his distinguished service, he has held several key appointments, which include assistant chief of the Air Staff Engineering, air commodore engineering (transport), air officer commanding of a guided weapon base repair depot and chief engineering officer at a UN-operated airfield in DR Congo.<ref name=":1" />

On getting promoted to the rank of air marshal, he assumed the appointment as the director general (aircraft) at the Air Headquarters on 1 November 2024. A year later on 1 December 2025, he took over as the air officer commanding-in-chief, Maintenance Command succeeding Air Marshal Vijay Kumar Garg, who superannuated on 30 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Air Marshal Yalla takes charge as AOC-IC of Maintenance Command |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/air-marshal-yalla-takes-charge-as-aoc-ic-of-maintenance-command/articleshow/125704075.cms |access-date=2025-12-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Awards and decorations == For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2022 |title=President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792624&reg=3&lang=2 |website=PIB Delhi}}</ref> He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff and AOC-in-C, Central Air Command.<ref name=":1" /> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |frameless|105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |Vishisht Seva Medal |Special Service Medal |Operation Vijay Medal |Sainya Seva Medal |- |High Altitude Medal |Videsh Seva Medal |75th Independence Anniversary Medal |50th Independence Anniversary Medal |- |30 Years Long Service Medal |20 Years Long Service Medal |9 Years Long Service Medal |MONUSCO |}

== Dates of ranks == {| class="wikitable" style="background:white" !Insignia !Rank !Component !Date of rank |- | align="center" |64x64px |Pilot Officer |Indian Air Force |4 September 1989<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Flying Officer |Indian Air Force |4 September 1990<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Flight Lieutenant |Indian Air Force |4 September 1994<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Squadron Leader |Indian Air Force |4 September 2000<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Wing Commander |Indian Air Force |16 December 2004<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |64x64px |Group Captain |Indian Air Force |1 April 2012<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |65x65px |Air Commodore |Indian Air Force |1 July 2020<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |65x65px |Air Vice Marshal |Indian Air Force |11 May 2023<ref name=":0" /> |- | align="center" |65x65px |Air Marshal |Indian Air Force |1 November 2024(AOC-in-C from 1 December 2025)<ref name=":0" /> |}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Umesh, Yalla}} Category:Indian Air Force air marshals Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)