Air Marshal Yalla Umesh has officially assumed the position of the 39th Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force’s Maintenance Command. This leadership transition marks a significant milestone within one of the IAF’s most vital operational support arms. Air Marshal Umesh succeeds Air Marshal Vijay Kumar Garg, who retired on November 30 after an impressive 39-year tenure in service.
Commissioned into the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch, Air Marshal Umesh is a ‘Category A’ aeronautical engineer with an extensive 37-year career. His educational background is noteworthy; he holds a Doctorate in Management and is an alumnus of renowned institutions such as the College of Defence Management and the National Defence College, which are instrumental in forging senior military leadership.
During his extensive career, Air Marshal Umesh has occupied several key engineering and command positions across significant combat, transport, and specialist fleets. His notable appointments include serving as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Engineering), Air Commodore Engineering (Transport), Chief Engineering Officer at a UN-operated airfield in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Air Officer Commanding of a Guided Weapon Base Repair Depot. Prior to his current role, he was the Director General (Aircraft) at Air Headquarters, where he was instrumental in various strategic and operational initiatives.
Recognized for his exemplary service, Air Marshal Umesh is a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal. He has been acknowledged for his contributions to maintenance innovation, fleet sustainability, and engineering reforms within the Indian Air Force.
As the new AOC-in-C, Air Marshal Umesh is expected to fortify the Maintenance Command’s capabilities, focusing on enhancing fleet availability, promoting indigenisation, and supporting the IAF’s overarching vision of modernization and self-reliance in defense technology. His extensive experience and innovative mindset are anticipated to play a critical role in steering the Maintenance Command toward new horizons of operational readiness and efficiency.
