By a happy coincidence, the Navy House—the residence of the Chief of the Naval Staff—on New Delhi’s Rajaji Marg was the venue of two get-togethers of India’s military top brass during which announcement of two Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces was made by the government.
In December 2019, the current Army Chief, Gen MM Naravane first heard the news of his appointment to the top post at a dinner hosted by Navy Chief Admiral KB Singh. Gen Naravane was then the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
On Tuesday, by a strange quirk, Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, the current Vice Chief of the Air Staff was at the Navy Chief’s residence when the official announcement of his appointment as the next Chief of the Air Staff was made and news channels started flashing the breaking news.
Navy Chief Adm KB Singh was once again hosting a farewell dinner for the outgoing Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
The Chief of Air Staff-designate Air Marshal Chaudhari will take over as the next Air Chief on 30 September and will have a three-year tenure at the helm. A decade ago, (2009-2011), Air Marshal Chaudhari was AA (Air Adviser) to the then Air Chief Marshal PV Naik. Since then he has steadily risen to now reach the post of Air Chief.
Air Marshal V R Chaudhari was commissioned into the Fighter stream of Indian Air Force in December 1982 and has held various Command, Staff and Instructional appointments at various levels including the present one as Vice Chief of Air Staff. This Air Officer is decorated with PVSM, AVSM, VM.
Team BharartShakti
