Jonnalagedda Chalapati

Early life and education Jonnalagedda Chalapati graduated from the Hyderabad Public School in 1980. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadagwasla and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. He has completed his National Defence Course from Bangladesh and master's degree in Military Studies from King's College London.

Career Jonnalagedda Chalapati was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on December 22, 1983. He has flying experience on various aircraft including HAL Tejas.

Chalapati is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot and has about 3311 hrs of operational flight experience. He had served as a test pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited working with DRDO on various projects. He has held various appointments including Command of an Operational Squadron, commanded the AFS Bagdogra. He served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Center, Aeronautical Development Agency. He was the Commandant at Air Force Academy, Dundigal.

In August 2020, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer for the Southern Air Command.

He superannuated on March 31, 2023 and was succeeded by Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan as AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command.

Awards and decorations During his career, Jonnalagedda Chalapati has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2012 for his service.

Personal life Jonnalagedda Chalapati is married to Smitha Gayatri Jonnalagedda who was previously the President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple is blessed with 2 children.