AVM Hassan Abubakar: Enter Tinubu’s New Chief of Air Staff
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday announced the appointment of new Service Chiefs, who would immediately be expected to tackle Nigeria’s security crisis.
One of the new appointees is Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, who Tinubu made the Chief of Air Staff, CAS. Below is a glimpse into the new Air Chief’s background.
Brief Background
Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar was born on 11 September 1970. He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Officer on 19 September, 1992.
The senior officer is happily married with children and in his leisure time, he enjoys flying airplanes, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.
Courses and Qualifications
The new Air Chief has attended several courses in the course of his career in the Air Force. Some of these include: Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna; Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna; Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji; Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar.
Others are: Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji; National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt; he also hold a Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Previous Appointments in the NAF
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The Vice Air Marshal’s background has earned him several appointments in the NAF, these appointments include: Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi; Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt; Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos; Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.
He was also SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna; Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin; Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC; Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC; Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.
Other positions comprise Operations Officer Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos; Operations Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos; Commanding Officer 21 Wing 88 Military Airlift Group Lagos; Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos; Fleet operation officer – 011Presidential Air Fleet; Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet.
He also served as the Chief of Staff, Mobility Command; Director of Policy, HQ NAF; Director of Operations, HQ NAF and Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command.
Until his appointment by Tinubu as the 22nd Chief of the Air Staff, the senior officer was the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.
Awards and Decorations
His various appointments have earned him some of the finest decorations and awards the NAF has to offer. AVM Abubakar has received awards of Distinguished Service Star; Passed Staff Course (psc); Fellow Defence College; Masters in International Affairs.
Furthermore, he is a Member National Institute of Management; Member Chartered Institute of Public Management; Member Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals.
With his resumé and wealth of experience accrued over the years from different parts of the country in different capacities, Nigerians will look forward to how the new helmsman of NAF will navigate its affairs in order to achieve a safer Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
