Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, is a former Commandant of the National Defence College, New Delhi. An experienced pilot with over 5000 sorties on fighters, he has commanded a fighter squadron, IAF’s prestigious Tactics Air Combat Development Establishment, two frontline fighter wings, and has extensive experience in the development and execution of air operations at Command, Air Force and Joint Operations levels. He has been the Senior Air Staff Officer of WAC, Air Defence Commander of two operational Commands, AOC of IAF’s Composite Operational Battle Response and Analysis Group, as well as the ACAS Inspections, and Director Air Staff Inspections and Operational Planning and Assessment Group. Actively involved in policy and doctrine formulation, Air Strategy development, International Defence cooperation, has led three international air exercises with US, France and UAE, and was a part of Def Secy level talks to Israel and China. An MA from Kings College (UK) in International Security and Strategy, M Phil in National Security and Defence, and PhD from Osmania University, he is a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies, and an avid air power scholar and writer.