Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, VSM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command. He previously served as Director General (Aircraft). He is also the Commodore Commandant of 25 Squadron.
Early life and education The air officer is an alumnus of the College of Defence Management and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He holds a Doctorate in Management, Post Graduate degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management, and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Military career He was commissioned into the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force on 4 September 1989. He is a 'Category A' aeronautical engineer and has held diverse engineering and leadership appointments across major combat, transport and specialist fleets of the Indian Air Force. During his distinguished service, he has held several key appointments, which include assistant chief of the Air Staff Engineering, air commodore engineering (transport), air officer commanding of a guided weapon base repair depot and chief engineering officer at a UN-operated airfield in DR Congo.
On getting promoted to the rank of air marshal, he assumed the appointment as the director general (aircraft) at the Air Headquarters on 1 November 2024. A year later on 1 December 2025, he took over as the air officer commanding-in-chief, Maintenance Command succeeding Air Marshal Vijay Kumar Garg, who superannuated on 30 November 2025.
Awards and decorations For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022. He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff and AOC-in-C, Central Air Command.
Vishisht Seva MedalSpecial Service MedalOperation Vijay MedalSainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Independence Anniversary Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service MedalMONUSCO
Dates of ranks InsigniaRankComponentDate of rankPilot OfficerIndian Air Force4 September 1989Flying OfficerIndian Air Force4 September 1990Flight LieutenantIndian Air Force4 September 1994Squadron LeaderIndian Air Force4 September 2000Wing CommanderIndian Air Force16 December 2004Group CaptainIndian Air Force1 April 2012Air CommodoreIndian Air Force1 July 2020Air Vice MarshalIndian Air Force11 May 2023Air MarshalIndian Air Force1 November 2024(AOC-in-C from 1 December 2025)
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