about Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, PVSM, VSM
Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, PVSM, VSM was born on 22 July 1949 and commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 21 June 1969. After initial schooling in the Sainik School, Satara, he graduated with the 33 course from the National Defence Academy.
In a distinguished career spanning forty years, the Chairman COSC and CAS has flown a wide variety of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the HT-2, he has flown the Vampire and the Hunter, and has had extensive operational experience on all variants of the MiG-21. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor with vast instructional experience and a Fighter Combat Leader from the prestigious Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE). He was selected as one of the first eight pilots to convert to the MiG-23 BN in the erstwhile USSR, and was responsible for its induction into the IAF. Besides commanding a front line fighter squadron, he has commanded an important fighter base and air force station at Bidar. He has been the Directing Staff at TACDE and the Defence Services Staff College.
During his career, the Air Chief Marshal held numerous important staff appointments in different headquarters. He was the Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Western Air Command, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command and the Vice Chief of Air Staff, prior to his appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff. He also took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on 01 April 2010.
The Air Chief Marshal is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, and an alumnus of the National Defence College. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.