DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE SLAF WAS APPOINTED
9:10am on Monday 7th October 2024
Air Vice Marshal Suresh Noel Fernando was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, with effect from today (07 October 2024). The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Suresh Fernando at the Air Force Headquarters today and conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Fernando is a proud product of St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa and he has excelled in Hockey, Basketball, Football and Athletics during his school career and awarded with Sri Lanka school colours for all three disciplines. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1988 as an Officer Cadet while concurrently pursuing his Advanced Level Examination studies. His military journey commenced with Basic combat training at SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa, followed by basic and Advanced Administrative training at SLAF Academy China Bay. Subsequently, he completed advanced Combat Regiment training at SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa. Since 1990, he has served as an Administrative Regiment Officer at Sri Lanka Air Force Ampara and has been actively engaged in operational duties to the present day. Notably, he has been honoured with Golden Eagle Colours for Athletics in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Fernando accomplished Land-Based Air Defence training in 1996, Junior Command and Staff College training at SLAF Academy China Bay in 2003 and Method of Instructions (MIC) Course at Air Force Station Thambaram, India, in 2004. He pursued the Civil-Military Response to Terrorism Course in 2006 and the Law of Armed Conflict Course at Peace Support College Kemantha, Malaysia, in 2008. Graduating from the Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka in 2009, he earned a Master of Science in Defence Management from the University of Kelaniya in 2010. In 2011, he completed the Senior Command Course at War College Mhow, India, followed by the Defence Management Course in Secundarabad, India, in 2013 and the Commanding Officer's Orientation Course at Air War College Secunderabad, India, in 2015. Additionally, he attended the Women Employment in Military conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2016. Air Vice Marshal Fernando pursued a Master of Arts in Counter Terrorism and Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, USA, in 2018.
Actively involved in ground operations for 19 years since 1990, particularly in the North and East, Air Vice Marshal Fernando's gallant service earned him the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP). He has commanded seven Air Force establishments and subsequently held the appointment of Director General Welfare before being appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Beyond his military commitments, he is a skilled golfer and has been a member of the Sri Lanka Air Force Golf team since 2012. Presently, he holds the position of Chairman of Soccer in the Air Force Sports Council and is an active member of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.
Air Vice Marshal Fernando is a proud product of St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa and he has excelled in Hockey, Basketball, Football and Athletics during his school career and awarded with Sri Lanka school colours for all three disciplines. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1988 as an Officer Cadet while concurrently pursuing his Advanced Level Examination studies. His military journey commenced with Basic combat training at SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa, followed by basic and Advanced Administrative training at SLAF Academy China Bay. Subsequently, he completed advanced Combat Regiment training at SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa. Since 1990, he has served as an Administrative Regiment Officer at Sri Lanka Air Force Ampara and has been actively engaged in operational duties to the present day. Notably, he has been honoured with Golden Eagle Colours for Athletics in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Fernando accomplished Land-Based Air Defence training in 1996, Junior Command and Staff College training at SLAF Academy China Bay in 2003 and Method of Instructions (MIC) Course at Air Force Station Thambaram, India, in 2004. He pursued the Civil-Military Response to Terrorism Course in 2006 and the Law of Armed Conflict Course at Peace Support College Kemantha, Malaysia, in 2008. Graduating from the Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka in 2009, he earned a Master of Science in Defence Management from the University of Kelaniya in 2010. In 2011, he completed the Senior Command Course at War College Mhow, India, followed by the Defence Management Course in Secundarabad, India, in 2013 and the Commanding Officer's Orientation Course at Air War College Secunderabad, India, in 2015. Additionally, he attended the Women Employment in Military conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2016. Air Vice Marshal Fernando pursued a Master of Arts in Counter Terrorism and Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, USA, in 2018.
Actively involved in ground operations for 19 years since 1990, particularly in the North and East, Air Vice Marshal Fernando's gallant service earned him the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP). He has commanded seven Air Force establishments and subsequently held the appointment of Director General Welfare before being appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Beyond his military commitments, he is a skilled golfer and has been a member of the Sri Lanka Air Force Golf team since 2012. Presently, he holds the position of Chairman of Soccer in the Air Force Sports Council and is an active member of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.
