Pradeep Vasant Naik
| Air Chief Marshall Pradeep Vasant Naik PVSM, VSM | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born |
July 22, 1949 Nagpur, Maharashtra |
| Allegiance |
 India |
| Service/branch |
 Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | June 21, 1969 – 2012 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | Indian Air Force |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards | |
| Other work | Honorary Aides-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India |
Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik served as the 19th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.[1] He took office on May 31, 2009, becoming the nineteenth Chief of Air Staff following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and is succeeded in office by Norman Anil Kumar Browne.
Career
Air Chief Marshal Naik was born on July 22, 1949 at Nagpur,Maharashtra and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 21, 1969 as a fighter pilot. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Satara and National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla in Maharashtra. During his 42 years of service, he has served in a variety of command staff and instructional appointments. He has over 3,000 hrs of flying on his log. The Air Chief also took part in 1971 war air actions in the Eastern and Western sector. Before taking over as Chief of Air Staff, he was the Vice Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He has also served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Allahabad-based, Central Air Command.
Besides being a fellow of the National Defence College, New Delhi, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader.He has served as Directing staff at DSSC Wellington, India and at Tactics & Air Combat Development Establishment( TACDE).
Awards
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Personal life
Air Chief Marshal Naik and his wife Madhubala Naik have two sons; the elder was a fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force and later transferred to the transport stream, and the younger, a Chief Officer in the Merchant Navy.
References
- ↑ "Pradeep Vasant Naik". Pratiyogita Darpan. October 2009. pp. 169–. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
External links
Media related to Pradeep Vasant Naik at Wikimedia Commons
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Fali Homi Major |
Chief of the Air Staff (India) 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Norman Anil Kumar Browne |