Jonnalagedda Chalapati

Jonnalagedda Chalapati, PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. He took over the office on 3 October 2021, succeeding of Air Marshal Manavendra Singh and superannuated on 31 March, 2023.

Early life and education
He 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 Masters 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. Served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Center, Aeronautical Development Agency. He was the Commandant at Air Force Academy, Dundigal.

He had served as Senior Air Staff Officer for the Southern Air Command from 1 August 2020 to 2 October 2021.

Awards and decorations
Chalapati has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2012, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024.

Personal life
Chalapati is married to Smitha Gayatri who is President of Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The couple has children.