Air Marshal SB Deo takes over as Vice-Chief of Air Staff

NEW DELHI: Air Marshal S B Deo today took over as Vice Chief of Air Staff in place of Air Marshal B S Dhanoa who is now the chief.

Air Marshal Deo, who was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on June 15, 1979 is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

He is a FCL (Fighter Combat Leader) and a 'Cat A' Qualified Flying Instructor with over 3,800 hours of operational and training flying.

Air Marshal S B Deo has been AOC of a major fighter base and commanded a Mig-21 Bison Squadron and a Signal Unit besides being the Chief Operating Officer of a forward base.

As Station Commander of the Signal Unit he was actively involved in the induction of modern assets and sensors in the IAF.

Prior to taking over as VCAS, he was the AOC-in-C (Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief ) of Western Air Command (WAC).

His son is also fighter pilot in the IAF.