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Profile Of New Chief Of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal I. O. Amao
Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Oladayo Amao
Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Oladayo Amao
Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, was on Tuesday appointed Nigeria’s new Chief of Air Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amao, who is a former Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, was born on September 14, 1965 in Enugu.
He hails from Oshogbo in Osun State.
The new Air Vice Marshal attended Nuhu Bamali Primary School Kaduna from 1971 – 77, and Command Secondary School Kakuri Kaduna from 1977 – 82.
He also attended Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT) New Bussa from 1994 – 96, University of Madras India from 2002 – 2003, Kaduna Polytechnic from 2005 – 2006 and National Defence University China from 2012 – 2013.
Amao enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 19th January 1984 as a member of 35 NDA Regular Course and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on 20th December 1986.
He started his Primary Flying Training at 301 Flying Training School (FTS) Kaduna from 1987 – 1989, did the Basic Flying Training at 303 FTS Kano from 1990 – 92 and Tactical Fighter Training at 99 Air Combat Training Group (99 ACTG) Kainji from 1993 – 99.
Later on, Amao went for Instructor Pilot Course at 301 FTS Kaduna from 2004 – 2005.
Amao had served in the following NAF Units: 99 ACTG Kainji as Trainee/Sqn Pilot from 1993 – 2004; 301 FTS Kaduna as Instructor Pilot/Sqn Pilot from 2004 – 2007; HQ NAF Abuja as Air Assistance to Chief of Air Staff from September 2008 – May 2010; Nigerian High Commission London as Deputy Defence Adviser from May 2010 – August 2012 and Ag Defence Adviser from November 2011 – Feb 2012.
He also served in Defence Headquarter as Assistance Director of operation from August 2013 – January 2014; 99 ACTG as Commander from 25th January 2014 – 20th January 2015; 75 Strike Group (75 STG) as Commander from 20th January 2015 – 16th February 2016; Air Component Commander of operation ZAMAN LAFIYA / LAFIYA DOLE (North East operation) from 13th February 2015 – 16th February 2016.
Amao also doubled as Acting Deputy Theater Commander (Air Ops) for operation LAFIYA DOLE from 4th January 2016 – 16th February 2016; Director of Policy (DOPOL) at HQ NAF, Abuja from 16th February – May 27 and Director of Operations (DOO) at HQ NAF, Abuja from 27th May – 6th September 16; Director of Training (DOT) at HQ NAF, Abuja from 6th September 2016 – 22nd December 2016 and Director of Operations (DOO) at HQ NAF from 22nd December 2016– 29th January 2018.
As a fighter pilot, Amao has participated in various operations such as: Draw Down of AFISMA operation in Mali from August 2013 – January 2014; operation ZAMAN LAFIYA from 20th February – 19th July 2015 and operation LAFIYA DOLE (North East operations) from 19th July 2015 – 16th February 2016.
His decorations include: Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), General Service Medal (GSM), River Benue Star (RBS), Passed Staff College (psc) and Fellow National Defence University (FNDU) China.
Some of the numerous military courses he has attended include, Junior Division Course at Armed Forces Command Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji from Jun – Dec 1986, Senior Division Course at Defence Services Staff College India from 2002 – 2003, Defence Course at National Defence University China from 2012 – 2013, Aircraft Accident Investigation in Civil Airline at NCAT Zaria and Aircraft Accident Investigation Course at Karachi, Pakistan.
He has the following academic qualification: MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras, India, Master of Military Science and Strategy (MMSc) and Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategy Studies from NDU China, Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kaduna Polytechnic, National Diploma in Freshwater and Fisheries Technology from FCFFT New Bussa and Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education.
He is married with kids and loves reading, dancing, travelling, fish farming, and playing volley ball.