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 MedalAti Vishisht Seva MedalVayusena MedalGeneral Service Medal - Naga Hills ServiceOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 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.
POST RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION
Work Done with Organisations
Distinguished fellow at United Services Institute (USI).
Distinguished Fellow at the Center of Air Power Studies (CAPS).
On the editorial board of the College of Air Warfare Journal.
On the editorial board of CAPS Journal (Blue Yonder).
On the editorial board of News Analytics Journal.
Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation.
Advisor – Indus International Research Foundation.
Mentor: Chakra Dialogues.
Chief Editorial Advisor – IIRF Yearbook
Affiliated with CENJOWS as a Subject Matter Expert.
Advisor - Bharat TV Now
Forum for Global Studies – on the panel of experts.
Distinguished visiting fellow at CNSS (Center for National Security Studies) at MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS).
Life member: White Canvas Education Council.
Conferred a title by Gems B School: Distinguished Son of India.
OrganisationType of OrganisationType of workCentre of Air Power Studies (CAPS)
Distinguished Fellow
On the editorial board of CAPS Journal (Blue Yonder). Think TankTalks (China, Leadership, Joint Strategic support force & Maritime air ops).
Articles for the journals (6+).
Seminar on Ukraine war.
Discussions during the WASP program.United Services Institute (USI)
Distinguished FellowThink TankTalks, panellists in Seminars/Webinars, Articles for journals, Strategic exercises at IFS, NDC, CAW and 27 Mtn Div, mentoring, strategic game on capability building. Peer review of paper. Strategic exercise at AWC.Synergia Foundation
Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation.Think TankArticles, Talk during Aero India, Talk during Def Expo.
Talk at Bangalore International Centre.Shyama Prakash Mukherji Research Foundation (SPMRF)Think TankSuraksha Samvad - Study & DiscussionDelhi Policy Group (DPG)Think TankPanellist in Seminars / WebinarsVivekanand International FoundationThink TankPanellist in Webinars and Podcasts.
Wargame.CENJOWS
Affiliated as Subject Matter ExpertThink TankPanellist in Seminars / Webinars (Integrated Capability Development – Sep 21)CSDR (The Council for Strategic and Defence Research) Think TankTalk / Lecture on Air Power & IAFCKS – Center for Knowledge SovereigntyThink TankTalk on China – How Does Dragon's Brain Work
Talk – Strategic evolution of IAFManohar Parikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis(MPIDSA)Think TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinarsFair Observer (USA)Think Tank Panellist in Seminar/ webinar
Making sense of India's stand on UkraineCASA (The Current & Strategic Affairs Forum)Think TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinarsNational Maritime FoundationThink TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinars
Indo-pacific strategic dialogueCLAWSThink TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinars
Articles for the journal.
Panellist in AAD seminar on Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Seminar on Op Sindoor SAMDESThink TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinarsThe Takshashila InstitutionThink TankParticipated in Seminars/ webinars
Panellist for discussion on Agniveer schemeThe Peninsula FoundationThink TankLecture on Air power and IAF
Participated in Seminars/ webinarsChennai Center for China StudiesThink TankPanellist in Seminar/ webinar (PLAAF)Indic Research ForumThink TankPanellist in Seminar/ webinar (PLAAF)
Keynote address: IAF and Counterterrorism ops
Panelist: Ukraine war.Chanakya Forum WebsiteThink TankArticles for the website / Journal (17+)Chanakya DiariesJournalArticles: Genesis of airpower theories and their relevance today in the inaugural issue.
Indian Quandary About Fifth-Generation Fighter AircraftGyan Chakra (WC of IA)Think TankArticle on IAF Strategies past, present and future.Strive Dialogue (CC of IA)Think TankDiscussion on IAF multi-national exercisesObservers Research Foundation (ORF)Think TankGlobal wars and lessons for Indian airpowerIndus International Research Foundation (IIRF)
Advisor – Indus International Research Foundation.
&
Chief Editorial AdvisorThink TankPanellist – Theatre command in the Indian context and Seminar on Indo-US Collaboration
Article for the yearbook (3)
Articles for the website (20+)
Seminar on Op sindoorAsia Centre BangaloreThink TankMember – talk on ChinaForum for Global Studies (on Panel of Experts)Think TankCapsule on AI in MilitaryDSCI - Data Security Council of IndiaSecurity OrganisationPanellist and chair in the seminar on Aerospace securityNational Defence College (NDC)Military InstituteTalks on China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
Panellist – Future Application of Force – joint way ahead.College of Air Warfare (CAW)
Editorial Board of CAW JournalMilitary InstituteTalks (China, IAF, Airpower, leadership etc.),
Paper reviews (China, grey zone and Airpower, Hypersonic weapons, China military-civil fusion, etc.) and strategic exercise Flying Training Institute - Air Force AcademyMilitary InstituteTalks on leadership and motivation, Technology and air power Flying Training Institute - BidarMilitary InstituteChanging nature of warfare Flying Training Institute - HakimpetMilitary InstituteDealing with two inimical neighbours. College of Defence ManagementMilitary InstituteTalks on China, IAF, airpower, leadership etc.) Army War CollegeMilitary InstituteTalks on (China, Airpower, IAF etc.)
Strategic Game Exercise College of Naval Warfare (CNW)Military InstituteTalks on (Maritime air operations, Airpower and IAF) Defence Services Staff College (DSSC)Military InstituteTalks on (Airpower, China, IAF, maritime air
Operations, etc.)
Non-Kinetic Warfare – Seminar and mentoring during exercise Western Air Command, IAFIAFTalk on China and Doklam Eastern Air Command, IAFIAFWebinar on China with CAPS – Joint Strategic Support Force, Article for Coffee Table BookSouthern Air CommandIAFChina in IOR, Maritime air opsTraining Command, IAFIAFSeminar on the 1971 War. Talk on Multilateralism.HQ Maritime air opsIAFFuture maritime air operationsAir Force AssociationIAFArticle for Journal on HT-2 Aircraft and Women Air Warriors, Article on women air warriorsTalks at IAF Units, SDI, ASTE, BRDs (Pune & Delhi), Six squadronIAFPractical Leadership and Management, Ukraine conflict, IAF, Air power subjectsAir Force Station AdampurIAFTalk on China HQ IDSHQ IDSPanellist – ICADS, AP vis-à-vis NKW ARTRAC, IAArmyPanellist – Air power and MDWHQ Southern CommandArmyPanellist in a seminar on Unmanned aerial systems Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)GovernmentAdvisor. Def TalksVideo channelVideo Interviews(Drone threat, IAF roles and tasks,
AP in GZ, Tejas and Indigenisation, IAF Fighter ac strength, Theatre commands, collective security, S – 400, Ukraine War, air superiority, Space warfare, Life of a Fighter Pilot Lt Gen Gurmeet SinghVideo channelVideo Interview (China, IAF and leadership)Hum HindustaniVideo channelVideo Interview (China, Drone Threat)Let's Talk ItUS-based Channel Online talk on Good working culture.
Talk on Growth Mindset.Jaideep SaikiaJournalistPanellist in Webinar on ChinaThe Book Review & Literary TrustLiterary Trust5 Book ReviewsFPRC (Foreign Policy Research Centre)Research InstituteArticles India's relations with Russia, USA and ChinaABPNews ChannelCommentaries (Republic Day and Air Force Day)BBC (Jugal Purohit)News ChannelInterview on BalakotCNNNews ChannelVideo bytes – UFO sighting at Imphal airportIndia TVNews ChannelInterview on Balakot, IAF Capability buildingNDTV (Vishnu Som)News ChannelInterview (Rafale)Sansad TVNews ChannelInterviewIndia TodayNews ChannelInterview on Balakot
Interview on China Threat & Indian Military Preparedness.
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