Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Vishwamitra)

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
उप-वायुसेनाध्यक्ष (Hindi)
Flag of the Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Last held by Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy 22 September 2021 – 12 July 2022
Royal Vishwamitran Air Force
Status	Deputy to the Chief of the Air Staff
Abbreviation	DCAS
Member of	Royal Vishwamitran Air Force
Reports to	Chief of the Air Staff
Nominator	Minister of Defence
Appointer	Rashtradhyaksh at the advice of the Chief of the Air Staff
Term length	At His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure
Formation	3 June 2021 (as Deputy Commander of the Air Force) 22 September 2021 (as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff)
First holder	Air Vice Marshal Matthew Griffin (as Deputy Commander of the Air Force)
Final holder	Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy
Abolished	12 July 2022

The Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) (Hindi: उप-वायुसेनाध्यक्ष‎), formerly known as the Deputy Commander of the Air Force was the title of the deputy to the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, the professional head of the Royal Vishwamitran Air Force between 2021 and 2022, and was second-in-line in the air force order of seniority. The deputy chief of the air staff was responsible for assisting the Air Chief in leading, managing, and overseeing all air force operations, strategies, and administrative matters within the nation. The role of the deputy chief of the air staff was largely ceremonial.

The position was customarily held by a three-star or junior officer. The first holder of the office was Air Vice Marshal Matthew Griffin who served as the Deputy Commander of the Air Force following the inception of the office until being promoted as Commander of the Air Force. Following his promotion as commander and later re-designation as chief of the air staff, the position remained vacant until the appointment of Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy on 22 September 2021, who also later briefly served as chief of the air staff on acting basis during the period when air chief Matthew Griffin served as a minister in the caretaker government. He served in office until the dissolution of the air force on 12 July 2022.

History

The unofficial history behind the position of the deputy chief of the air staff dates back to 2018 when then Supreme Leader Varuna Sriraya appointed Abhiraj Kar as the Vice Chief Marshall of the Air Force effectively making him the ceremonial deputy head of the air force, the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces. The position of the deputy head of the Royal Vishwamitran Air Force was formally created on 3 June 2021 and Air Vice Marshal Matthew Griffin was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Air Force. On 18 June 2021, Air Vice Marshal Griffin was appointed as the second commander of the air force and effectively promoted to the rank of air marshal. Following his promotion, the position became vacant.

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. On 22 September 2021, the position of the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff was created and Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy was appointed to the position. He also briefly served as acting chief of the air staff when Matthew Griffin served in the caretaker government as Minister of Defence.

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 Deputy 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 Chief of the Air Staff and the nomination by the Minister of Defence. The deputy chief of the air staff served in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh.

Insignia

Ranks insignia worn by the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
Air Vice Marshal (OF-7) (2021)	Air Commodore (OF-6) (2021–2022)

Appointees

Deputy Commander of the Air Force (2021)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Air Vice Marshal Matthew Griffin (born 2003)	3 June 2021	18 June 2021	7001150000000000000♠15 days	None

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (2021–2022)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Air Commodore Jacob McVaddy (born 2003)	22 September 2021	12 July 2022	7002293000000000000♠293 days	None
Position abolished

See also

• Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Vishwamitra), deputy to the chief of the army
• Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Vishwamitra), former deputy to the chief of the navy