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Chief of the Air Staff

Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko UMAR DSS psc fwc MSc

Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar was born in Kano on 20 June 1955 and hails from Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State. He began his early education at Victory College Cairo, Egypt in 1963. He later attended Sardauna Memorial College Kaduna from 1969 to 1973 and graduated at Pivotal Teachers College Kano in 1975. Air Marshal Umar enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of Short Service Course 12 and was commissioned pilot officer on 5 July 1976. COURSES ATTENDED Air Marshal Umar has attended several courses at home and abroad since he joined the Nigerian Air Force. He commenced Ab-Initio Flying Training on the Bulldog Aircraft in January 1977 at the Primary Flying Training Wing, 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna.

Thereafter, he attended several other flying training courses some of which include: Basic Flying Courses on the Jet Provosts 3 and 5 at Royal Air Force Linton-On-Ouse and subsequently Advance Flying Course at the Royal Air Force, Valley in the United Kingdom. He also attended the DO-228 Conversion Course at 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna. Air Marshal Umar has flown several aircraft types some of which include Bulldog, Donier-228, Jet Provost 3 and 5, HS125, Hawker 1000, Falcon 900 and B727 Aircraft. He is an experienced Qualified Flying Instructor with a total of 8,175 flying hours. The Air Marshal also possesses American Airline Transport Pilot Licence as well as the Nigerian Airline Transport Pilot Licence. Air Marshal Umar attended the Junior Command and Staff Course at Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Accra in 1989 and Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji Kaduna. He also attended the prestigious National Defence College, Abuja as a member of Course 12 and was conferred with the fellow of the National War College (fwc). The Air Marshal is also a proud recipient of the Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.  APPOINTMENTS HELD Air Marshal Umar has held several staff and command appointments. These include Fleet Captain on the HS 125, Commanding Officer Operational Services Wing at the Presidential Air Fleet, Abuja; Group Training Officer 301 Flying Training School and Commanding Officer Primary Flying Training Wing Kaduna. Air Marshal Umar was also the Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force Abuja and was subsequently appointed Command Evaluation Officer, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Makurdi. Thereafter, he moved back to Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force as Deputy Director Plans. He was also Commander 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna and later moved back to Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force as Coordinator, Project Implementation Monitoring Team and subsequently was re-deployed as the Director of Operations, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force. Air Marshal Umar was appointed the Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Kaduna in 2008, a position he held until his appointment as the 17th Chief of the Air Staff on 8 September 2010. DECORATIONS Air Marshal Umar is a recipient of several medals. Some of these include; Forces Services Star (FSS), Meritorious Services Star (MSS) and Distinguish Services Star (DSS). HOBBIES Air Marshal Umar is married to Hajiya Aisha Uwani and they are blessed with 5 children: 2 boys and 3 girls. His hobbies include horseback riding, watching documentary films, golfing, walking and playing volleyball.