Air Marshal
Diptendu Choudhury
PVSM AVSM VM VSM
Commandant, National Defence College
In office
16 December 2019 – 30 November 2021
Preceded bySrikant
Succeeded byManoj Kumar Mago
Personal details
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service22 December 1983 – 30 November 2021
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo. 15 Squadron
CommandsNational Defence College
Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment
No. 15 Squadron
No. 24 Squadron
Battles/warsKargil War
Operation Parakram
Service number17335[1]

Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the 32nd Commandant, National Defence College. He assumed the office on 16 December 2019 succeeding Vice Admiral Srikant and served till his superannuation on 30 November 2021.[2]

Early life and education

Diptendu Choudhury is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune. He is an alumnus of Royal College of Defence Studies, UK, a Post Graduate in Strategy and International Security from King's College, London and Master of Philosophy on Defence and Strategic Studies. He is currently pursuing Ph.D. in air power and has also authored a large number of service papers. He is serving as a Distinguished Fellow, at Vivekananda International Foundation[3][4]

Career

Diptendu Choudhury was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 5,000 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets. He is fully operational on MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Su-30 aircraft.[5]

He is a fighter combat Leader and an instrument rating Instructor and Examiner. He has served two tenures at TACDE first as an Instructor and then as Commandant. He has led three International exercises – Red Flag, Desert Eagle and Garuda exercise.[1]

As Group Captain, he served as the Commandant at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment. Later, he served as Director (Joint Planning) at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi.[5]

As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 35 Wing at the Suratgarh, Rajasthan in the South Western Air Command. Later, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 1 Wing at the New Delhi under the Western Air Command.[5]

As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Air Defence Commander at Central Air Command. Later, he served as the Air Officer Commanding at the Composite Battle Response and Analysis Group (CoBRA) at Maharajpur and Air Officer Commanding in Gandhinagar. He served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Inspection.[6]

After his promotion to Air Marshal in April 2019, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command till 15 December 2019.[5][7]

He took over as the Commandant, National Defence College on 16 December 2019 from Vice Admiral Srikant.[8] Under his command, a Chair of Excellence on National Security was setup at the National Defence College.[9]

Honours and decorations

During his career, Diptendu Choudhury has been awarded the Commendation card by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1992, Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018, Vayu Sena Medal in 2011 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2007 for his service.[10][11][12][13]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal General Service Medal 1947 Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Star
Operation Parakram Medal Operation Vijay Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

References

  1. 1 2 "Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury - BRF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. ↑ "Air Marshal D Choudhury assumes charge as Commandant of National Defence College". Defence Star. 2019-12-16.
  3. ↑ "Diptendu Choudhury". IDSA. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  4. ↑ "Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, Distinguished Fellow, VIF". Vivekananda Internation Foundation. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Air Marshal D Choudhury AVSM VM VSM takes over as SASO Hq WAC" (Press release). PIB. 2019-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Air Force Station Gandhinagar celebrates 50th anniversary". Times of India. 2017-04-21.
  7. ↑ "Air Marshal D Chaudhury assumes charge as Western Air Command SASO". United News Of India. 2019-04-01.
  8. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (2020-11-09). "National Defence College is the crucible of strategic leadership, says Commandant Air Marshal D. Choudhury". The Hindu.
  9. ↑ "President Kovind approves establishment of 'Chair of Excellence' on national security at NDC". Business World.
  10. ↑ "President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 2022-01-25.
  11. ↑ "390 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). PIB. 2018-01-25.
  12. ↑ "440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). PIB. 2011-01-25.
  13. ↑ "Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations" (Press release). PIB. 2007-01-25.
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