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Air Marshal
Jonnalagedda Chalapati
PVSM AVSM VSM ADC
Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati PVSM AVSM VSM ADC
Personal details
Born	Andhra Pradesh, India
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal; Ati Vishisht Seva Medal; Vishisht Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Air Force
Years of service	22 December 1983 - 31 March 2023
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands	Southern Air Command; Air Force Academy; AFS Bagdogra
Service number	17358

Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. He assumed the office on October 3, 2021, succeeding Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.^[2]

Early life and education

Jonnalagedda Chalapati graduated from the Hyderabad Public School in 1980.^[3] He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadagwasla and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. He has completed his National Defence Course from Bangladesh and Masters Degree in Military Studies from King's College London.^[4]

Career

Jonnalagedda Chalapati was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on December 22, 1983. He has flying experience on various aircraft including HAL Tejas.^[1]^[5]

Chalapati is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot and has about 3311 hrs of operational flight experience. He had served as a test pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited working with DRDO on various projects. He has held various appointments including Command of an Operational Squadron, commanded the AFS Bagdogra. He served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Center, Aeronautical Development Agency. He was the Commandant at Air Force Academy, Dundigal.^[6]

In August 2020, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer for the Southern Air Command.^[7]^[1]

He superannuated on March 31, 2023 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan as AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command.^[8]

Awards and decorations

During his career, Jonnalagedda Chalapati has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2012 for his service.^[1]^[9]^[10]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Vishisht Seva Medal
Samanya Seva Medal	Siachen Glacier Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

Personal life

Jonnalagedda Chalapati is married to Smitha Gayatri Jonnalagedda who was previously the President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple is blessed with 2 children.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati - Bharat Rakshak". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
^ "Air Marshal J.Chalapati takes over as SAC chief". The Hindu. 2021-10-04.
^ Dammala, Rachel (2023-06-05). "Hyderabad Public School: A Century of Leadership and Excellence". Deccan Chronicle.
^ "Chalapati takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command". Outlook India. 2021-10-04.
^ ^a ^b "AOC-in-C-SAC". Indian Air Force. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
^ Correspondent, Special (2019-10-16). "New Commandant of IAF Academy takes charge". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-18. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ "Air Marshal Chalapati joins Southern Air Command". New Indian Express. 2020-08-04.
^ T 6656, Nandakumar (2023-05-02). "Air Marshal B. Manikantan takes over as AOC-in-C, SAC". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". PIB. 2022-01-25.
^ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous". PIB (Press release). 2024-01-25.

Military offices
Preceded by Manavendra Singh	Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command 3 October 2021 - 31 March 2023	Succeeded by Balakrishnan Manikantan
Preceded by Gurcharan Singh Bedi	Senior Air Staff Officer - Southern Air Command 1 August 2020 - 2 October 2021	Succeeded by Surendra Kumar Indoria
Preceded by Arvindra Singh Butola	Commandant – Air Force Academy 14 October 2019 - 31 July 2020	Succeeded by Vipin Indira Panabhan Nayar