List of South African military chiefs
Chief of the Air Force
The Chief of the South African Air Force is the professional head of the Air Force. The post was called 'Director of Air Services' 1920–33, 'Director of Air & Technical Services' 1937–39, 'Director-General of Air Services' 1939–41, 'Director-General of the Air Force' 1941–51, and 'Air Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of the Air Force' since 1966.

List of South African military chiefs

Section Title: Chief of the Air Force
Table Section Text: The Chief of the South African Air Force is the professional head of the Air Force. The post was called 'Director of Air Services' 1920–33, 'Director of Air & Technical Services' 1937–39, 'Director-General of Air Services' 1939–41, 'Director-General of the Air Force' 1941–51, and 'Air Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of the Air Force' since 1966.

№	Chief of the Air Force	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref

1	Sir Pierre van Ryneveld KBE, CB, DSO, MC	Colonel Sir Pierre van Ryneveld KBE, CB, DSO, MC (1891–1972)	1 February 1920	30 September 1937	17 years, 241 days

2	Francis Hoare CB, CBE	Colonel Francis Hoare CB, CBE (1879–1959)	1 October 1937	31 October 1937	30 days	—

3	Hector Daniel CBE, MC, AFC	Lieutenant colonel Hector Daniel CBE, MC, AFC (1898–1953)	1 November 1937	12 September 1939	2 years, 41 days	—

4	John Holthouse OBE	Colonel John Holthouse OBE (1891–1964)	13 September 1939	30 September 1940	1 year, 17 days	—

5	Christoffel Venter CB, DFC & bar	Major general Christoffel Venter CB, DFC & bar (1892–1977)	1 October 1940	16 October 1945	5 years, 15 days	—

6	Harold Willmott CBE	Brigadier Harold Willmott CBE (1899–1993)	17 October 1945	10 September 1946	328 days	—

7	James 'Jimmy' Durrant CB, DFC	Brigadier James 'Jimmy' Durrant CB, DFC (1913–1990)	1 October 1946	30 June 1951	4 years, 272 days	—

(6)	Harold Willmott CBE	Brigadier Harold Willmott CBE (1899–1993)	1 July 1951	24 August 1954	3 years, 54 days	—

8	Stephen Melville SSA, OBE	Brigadier Stephen Melville SSA, OBE (1904–1977)	25 August 1954	22 September 1956	2 years, 28 days	—

9	Barend Viljoen SSA, OBE	Major general Barend Viljoen SSA, OBE (1908–1995)	23 September 1956	30 April 1965	8 years, 219 days	—

10	Henry 'Kalfie' Martin SM, CBE, DFC	Lieutenant general Henry 'Kalfie' Martin SM, CBE, DFC (1910–2000)	1 May 1965	30 November 1967	2 years, 213 days	—

11	Jacobus Verster SSA, SM	Lieutenant general Jacobus Verster SSA, SM (1919–1981)	1 December 1967	28 February 1975	7 years, 89 days	—

12	Robert 'Bob' Rogers SSA, SM, MMM, DSO, DFC & bar	Lieutenant general Robert 'Bob' Rogers SSA, SM, MMM, DSO, DFC & bar (1921–2000)	1 March 1975	30 November 1979	4 years, 274 days	—

13	Michal Muller SSAS, SD	Lieutenant general Michal Muller SSAS, SD (born 1930)	1 December 1979	29 February 1984	4 years, 90 days	—

14	Denis Earp SSA, SD, SM, SOE	Lieutenant general Denis Earp SSA, SD, SM, SOE (born 1930)	1 March 1984	30 June 1988	4 years, 121 days	—

15	Jan van Loggerenberg SSAS, SD, SOE, SM, MMM, ORB	Lieutenant general Jan van Loggerenberg SSAS, SD, SOE, SM, MMM, ORB (born 1935)	1 July 1988	31 October 1991	3 years, 122 days	—

16	James Kriel SSAS, SD, SM, MMM	Lieutenant general James Kriel SSAS, SD, SM, MMM (1942–2016)	1 November 1991	30 April 1996	4 years, 181 days	—

17	Willem Hechter SSA, SD, SM, MMM	Lieutenant general Willem Hechter SSA, SD, SM, MMM (born 1942)	1 May 1996	29 February 2000	3 years, 304 days

18	Roelf Beukes SD, SM, MMM	Lieutenant general Roelf Beukes SD, SM, MMM	1 March 2000	28 February 2005	4 years, 364 days	—

19	Carlo Gagiano SM, MMM	Lieutenant general Carlo Gagiano SM, MMM (born 1951)	1 March 2005	30 September 2012	7 years, 213 days	—

20	Fabian Msimang SM, MMM	Lieutenant general Fabian Msimang SM, MMM (born 1960)	1 October 2012	Incumbent	6 years, 181 days

Sentence(s)

Lieutenant-General James Kriel SSAS SD SM MMM (1942 – 2016) was a South African military commander.

final_sentence: Lieutenant-General James Kriel SSAS SD SM MMM (1942 – 2016) was a South African military commander.