Surendra Kumar Ghotia

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Air Marshal

| name = Surendra Kumar Ghotia

| honorific_suffix =PVSM, VSM

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| image = File:Air Marshal SK Ghotia as AOC-in-C of SWAC.jpg

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| allegiance = {{flag|India}}

| branch = {{air force|India}}

| serviceyears = December 1981 - 30 April 2021

| rank = 30px Air Marshal

| servicenumber = 16575

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| commands = South Western Air Command
Training Command

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| awards = Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

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Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia, PVSM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command till 30 April 2021. He assumed the office on 1 October 2019 following Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora's elevation to Vice Chief of the Air Staff.{{cite news|url=https://connectgujarat.com/air-marshal-sk-ghotia-vsm-assumed-the-command-of-swac/?platform=hootsuite|title=Air Marshal SK Ghotia VSM assumed the command of SWAC|date=2019-10-01}} He superannuated on 30 April 2021 after almost 40 years of service. He was succeeded by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/16575|title=Service record - Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghoti|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=26 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/air-marshal-sandeep-singh-swac-chief-7298216/|title=Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes charge as chief of South Western Air Command|publisher=Indian Express|date=2021-05-01|access-date=2021-05-26}}

Early life and education

Ghotia is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakwasla. He has undergone Air Staff course at Defence Services Staff College Wellington as well as Higher Air Command course at College of Air Warfare Secunderabad. He holds two master's degrees.

Career

Ghotia was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in December 1981. He has over 3000 hours of flying experience on different aircraft. He is also a qualified instructor with instructional experience of more than 1000 hours.{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/jul01-16/h23.htm|title=Appointments, Sainik Samachar Archives|date=2016-07-01|accessdate=2019-06-10}}

His various field appointments include commanding a fighter squadron, chief operations officer, and station commander of a forward air base in South Western Air Command. He has served in a number of staff appointments including director intelligence at Air Headquarters, staff officer of fighter operations in Western Air Command, principal director training (flying) at Air Headquarters, assistant chief of air staff (intelligence), air officer commanding of COBRA group, and air attache at embassy of India in Paris.

Ghotia assumed office of Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command on 20 June 2016 and served in that capacity till his appointment as AOC-in-C, Training Command.

He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command from 1 May 2019 succeeding Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, to 30 September 2019.{{cite tweet|user=IAF_MCC|number=1123568303530602499|title=Air Marshal SK Ghotia took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command on 01 May 19. On taking over Command, he inspected the Guard of Honour and laid a wreath at Training Command War Memorial.|date=2019-05-01}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189894|title=Air Marshal Sk Ghotia VSM takes over command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief training command|date=2019-05-01|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}{{cite tweet|user=Prodef_blr|number=1178634445789646848|title=Air Marshal SK Ghotia, VSM, hands over command of Headquarters Training Command, @IAF_MCC in Bengaluru. Air Marshal Ghotia shall be taking over as Air Officer Commanding -in-Chief South Western Air Command.|date=2019-09-30}}{{cite web|url=https://aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-marshal-sk-ghotia-to-take-over-as-aoc-in-c-south-western-air-command20191001001351/|title=Air Marshal SK Ghotia to take over as AOC-in-C South Western Air Command|date=2019-09-30}}

Honours and decorations

During his career, Ghotia has been awarded the commendation by Air Officer Commanding-in-chief, Western Air Command in 1994, commendation by Chief of Air Staff in 1998, Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2007, and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in January 2020 for his service.{{cite web|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/content/aoc-c-4|title=AIR MARSHAL SK GHOTIA VSM, AIR OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF TRAINING COMMAND|accessdate=2019-06-10}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=34900|title=Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations|date=2008-01-25|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197643|title=Distinguished Service and Gallantry Awards to IAF Personnel on Republic Day - 2020|date=2020-01-25}}

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

style="text-align:center;"| Param Vishisht Seva Medal

|style="text-align:center;"|Vishisht Seva Medal

Personal life

He is married to Nirmala Ghotia who served as the President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional), and they have two daughters.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/change-of-guard-at-iaf-training-command-in-bengaluru-731620.html|title=Change of Guard at IAF Training Command in Bengaluru|date=2019-05-01|accessdate=2019-06-10}}