Chief of the Air Staff (Vishwamitra)

Chief of the Air Staff
वायुसेनाध्यक्ष (Hindi)
Flag of the Chief of Air Staff
Last held by Marshal of the Air Force The Count of Essex 18 June 2021 – 12 July 2022
Royal Vishwamitran Air Force
Status	Professional head of the air force
Abbreviation	CAS
Member of	Royal Vishwamitran Air Force Chiefs of Staff Committee Armed Forces Council
Reports to	Rashtradhyaksh Prime Minister Minister of Defence
Nominator	Minister of Defence
Appointer	Rashtradhyaksh at the advice of the Cabinet
Term length	At His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure
Formation	8 March 2021 (as Commander of the Air Force) 24 August 2021 (as Chief of the Air Staff)
First holder	Air Marshal Abrams Wiucki-Dunswed (as Commander of the Air Force)
Final holder	Marshal of the Air Force Matthew Griffin
Abolished	12 July 2022
Deputy	Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS)

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) (Hindi: वायुसेनाध्यक्ष‎), formerly known as the Commander of the Air Force was the title of the professional head of the Royal Vishwamitran Air Force between 2021 and 2022, and was the senior-most military officer ranking only below the Commander-in-Chief, a position held by the Rashtradhyaksh. The chief of the air staff was responsible for leading, managing, and overseeing all air force operations, strategies, and administrative matters within the nation. The role of the chief of the air staff was largely ceremonial.

The position was customarily held by a four-star officer. The first holder of the office was Air Marshal Abrams Wiucki-Dunswed who served as the Commander of the Air Force following the inception of the office until being promoted as Chief of the Defence Staff. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Matthew Griffin, who later became the first Chief of the Air Staff and was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal and later as the Marshal of the Air Force. He served in office until the dissolution of the air force on 12 July 2022.

History

The unofficial history behind the position of the chief of the air staff dates back to 2018 when then Supreme Leader Varuna Sriraya appointed Anoushkaa Patranabish as the Chief Marshall of the Air Force effectively making her the ceremonial head of the air force, the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces. The position of the head of the Royal Vishwamitran Air Force was formally created on 8 March 2021 and Air Marshal Abrams Wiucki-Dunswed was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force. At that time, the commanders of the three services held a three-star equivalent rank while the Chief of the General Staff, later renamed as Chief of the Defence Staff, was the sole-holder of a four-star rank. On 18 June 2021, Air Marshal Dunswed was appointed as the second chief of the defence staff and effectively promoted to the rank of air chief marshal. He was succeeded by his deputy, Air Vice Marshal Matthew Griffin who was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal and appointed as commander of the air force.

On 24 August 2021, at the recommendation of Defence Minister Michal Nowacki and his deputy Rory Leonard, the cabinet decided to promote all the tri-services commanders to a four-star rank in their respective services and designated them as Chiefs of Staff. Thereupon, Air Marshal Matthew Griffin was promoted to the rank of an air chief marshal and re-designated as Chief of the Air Staff and continued to head the air force, which was the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Griffin also briefly served in the caretaker government as Minister of Defence and later also served as the chairman of the chiefs of staff committee. During the period of Griffin's taking up duties as caretaker defence minister, his deputy Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy served as the acting chief of air staff.

On 12 July 2022, the air force along with the Royal Vishwamitran Navy were dissolved and the army remained the sole branch and it was renamed as the Royal Vishwamitran Defence Forces.

Appointment

The Chief of the Air Staff was appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence and upon the approval from the cabinet. The chief of the air staff served in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh.

Insignia

Ranks insignia worn by the Chief of the Air Staff
Marshal of the Air Force (OF-10) (2022)	Air Chief Marshal (OF-9) (2021–2022)	Air Marshal (OF-8) (2021)

Appointees

italic indicates acting tenure

Commander of the Army (2021)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Air Marshal Abrams Wiucki-Dunswed Duke of Portanhel (born 2006)	8 March 2021	18 June 2021	7002102000000000000♠102 days	None
2		Air Marshal Matthew Griffin Baron Griffin of Essex (born 2003)	18 June 2021	24 August 2021	7001670000000000000♠67 days	Deputy Commander of the Air Force

Chief of the Air Staff (2021–2022)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Air Chief Marshal Matthew Griffin Count of Essex (born 2003)	24 August 2021	20 October 2021	7001570000000000000♠57 days	Commander of the Air Force
–		Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy (born 2003) (Acting)	20 October 2021	21 November 2021	7001320000000000000♠32 days	Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
(1)		Marshal of the Royal Air Force Matthew Griffin Count of Essex (born 2003)	21 November 2021	12 July 2022	7002233000000000000♠233 days	Chief of the Air Staff
Position abolished

See also

• Chief of the Army Staff (Vishwamitra), professional head of the army
• Chief of the Defence Staff (Vishwamitra), former professional head of the tri-services
• Chief of the Naval Staff (Vishwamitra), former professional head of the navy