Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia assumed command of Eastern Air Command, IAF, on 01 Feb 2026. An NDA alumnus, he was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 11 Jun 1988. He has over 3,200 hours of flying experience on a variety of fighter aircraft. Apart from commanding a fighter squadron, TACDE, and key IAF bases, the officer has held numerous key appointments at Air HQ and Command HQs. Air Marshal Walia has also served as Defence Attaché to Japan and South Korea.