# Anil Khosla

Air Marshal Anil Khosla, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is a retired Indian air force officer who served as 42nd Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force. He assumed the office on 1 October 2018 and handed over on 30 April 2019.

## Career

Khosla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1979. He has clocked over 4000 hours of flying on different aircraft like SEPECAT Jaguar, MiG-21 and HAL Kiran. He has experience in both ground attack and air defence roles and specializes in maritime role. He is also an A2 category flying instructor and a fighter strike leader.
He has commanded a SEPECAT Jaguar squadron assigned to a maritime role and two IAF frontline bases, Jaisalmer AFS and Ambala AFS. He has held other key posts as well including, Principal Director at Directorate of Information and Electronic Warfare; Director in Personnel branch; Joint Director at Directorate of Concept Studies; Air Officer Commanding HQ Maritime Air Operations; Air Officer Commanding J&K Area; Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), Central Air Command; Director General Air (Operations), Air HQ and Director General (Inspection & Safety), Air HQ and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command (1 January 2017 - 30 September 2018).
* Handled DOKLAM and BALAKOT operations.
* Served in all the operational commands of the IAF, In all the sectors. Commanded two important operational Bases (Ambala and Jaisalmer)
* Worked extensively with the Army and Navy. Associated with several Government Ministries and agencies including NTRO, DRDO, ISRO, NDMA and defence PSUs.
* Involved with the formulation of Air Force War Plans, Force structure planning and capability building.
* Handled (planned, monitored and executed) several internal and international Exercises and Disaster Relief situations, both within the country and abroad.

## Awards and medals

Khosla has been awarded several medals. He stood first in the order of merit of all the attended courses namely: Flying Instructors course, Fighter Strike leaders course, Junior command course and Staff course. He was also awarded Commandants medal for higher command course at Army war college. He is recipient of AOC-in-C commendation (as flying cadet for force landing HT -2 ac during solo) and CAS commendation. Presidential awards include the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, the Vayu Sena Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2018).

### Military awards

| | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | |
| Vayusena Medal | General Service Medal - Naga Hills Service | Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal |
| 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal |

## Education and academic work

Khosla is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune and National Defence College, New Delhi. He is a post-graduate from Defense Service Staff College, Wellington. He also attended a higher command course at the Army War College, Mhow and was awarded the Commandants medal. In addition, he attended a senior defence management course at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.
Holds Two M Phil degrees in defence and strategic studies. Pursuing research on China (How does Dragon’s brain work).
Delivered talks on military subjects like Leadership, China, and Pakistan, Air Power, Maritime air operations and IAF, in military academic institutions including the National Defence College (NDC), College of Air Warfare (CAW), Army War College (AWC), College of Naval Warfare (CNW), College of Defence Management (CDM) and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC).
Distinguished fellow at United Services Institute (USI) and Centre of Air Power Studies (CAPS). On the editorial board of the College of Air Warfare Journal and CAPS Journal (Blue Yonder). Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation, Advisor Indus International Research Foundation. Instructor at Peninsula Foundation and worked with several think tanks and academic organisations.
Academic work also includes written papers (On air power, geopolitics and security issues), Conduct of Strategic Exercises, book reviews, mentoring and motivational talks.

## Personal life

Khosla is married to Mrs Deepshikha Khosla and has two sons. He is a keen golfer and billiards/Snooker player. He is a national level puzzle solver and has participated in Sudoku nationals for the last twelve years and puzzle solving nationals for four years.
Blog: http://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/
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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anilkhosla15871
Social Media Handles Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-khosla-6848a5179/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnilKhosla16 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anil.khosla.733076 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anil.khosla.733076/ Discord: Anil#7748