Arvindra Singh Butola
Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola, VM, VSM is an officer in the Indian Air Force. He is currently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command, and assumed office on 14 October 2019 succeeding Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia.[1][2]
Arvindra Singh Butola VM, VSM | |
|---|---|
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| Allegiance | India |
| Service/ | Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | June 1982 - Present |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held | Training Command |
| Awards | Vayusena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal |
Early life and education
Butola graduated from National Defence Academy Khadakwasla in May 1981. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi.[3][4]
Career
Butola was commissioned as a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force in June 1982. He is a qualified flight instructor and has flying experience of over 6700 hours on 21 different types of aircraft.[1][4]
He has commanded a helicopter unit in Jammu and Kashmir, and had also been senior flying instructor and advisor to Namibian Defence Force. His other appointments included chief test pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, station commander of an air base under Western Air Command, senior officer-in-charge of administration of an operational command, as well as assistant chief of air staff operations (transport and helicopters) at air headquarters.[5][4]
Butola assumed office of Commandant Air Force Academy on 4 September 2018 and served there till his appointment as AOC-in-C Training Command.[3][1] Prior to Commandant of Air Force Academy, he served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command, taking over on 1 August 2016.[5]
Honours and decorations
During his career of 37 years, Butola has been awarded the Vayusena Medal (VM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his service.[4]
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| Vayu Sena Medal | Vishisht Seva Medal |
References
- @Prodef_blr (2019-10-14). "Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola, Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command today. He is an alumnus of NDA & was commissioned in the Helicopter stream of the IAF in June 1982" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola assumes charge of IAF Training Command". 2019-10-14.
- @dprohyd (2018-09-04). "Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola, Vayu Sena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal took over as Commandant of Air Force Academy, Dundigal today. Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola graduated from NDA, Khadakwasla in May 1981 and was commissioned in the Helicopter stream of #IAF in Jun 1982" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Appointments". 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- "Air Marshal Butola takes over as Commandant of Air Force Academy". 2018-09-04.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Surendra Kumar Ghotia |
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command 14 October 2019 - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |