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Former Chiefs of Air Staffs
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AIR VICE MARSHAL JN YISA-DOKO (1975-1980) |
The emergence of Air Vice Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko can be said
to have signalled
the maturation of the NAF. He was not only the first officer of NAF origin to become
CAS, but also the first to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal. He was appointed CAS on 29 July 1975.
Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko started his education at St. Peter’s School, Diko in
1947 before moving to St. John’s School, Bida in 1951
where he completed his primary
school in 1955. After his primary school, he moved to
Government College, Kaduna
for his secondary education, graduating in 1961. He then moved on to the Federal
Emergency Science School, Lagos in 1962.
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He enrolled into the NAF as a cadet in 1962 and was one of the pioneer officer cadets
sent
to the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force for pilot training between 1962 and 1964.
On return from Ethiopia, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1964. His
other military service training include: Advanced Flying Training (German Air Force),
1965; Type Rating (5 NAF aircraft types), Kaduna 1965-1970; Staff College, Royal
Air Force, United Kingdom 1969-1970; Type Rating (Fokker-27), the Netherlands 1974
and the United State Industrial College of Armed Forces in 1974. He served in various
capacities as his career progressed. Among these are, Officer Commanding NAF Flying
Wing, Kaduna 1965-1968, Senior Air Officer Operations and Training, HQ NAF (1970)
and Commander, NAF Training Group, Kaduna (1971).
He also held other appointments such as Commander, Air Transport Group, Ikeja (1972-1974)
and Senior Air Officer Operations and Training, HQ NAF (1974-1975). Between 1975
and 1979 Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko served as a member of the National Council of
States, Supreme Military and National Security Councils.
During his tenure as CAS, he initiated the establishment of primary schools in all
major NAF formations, as well as training schools for all NAF primary trade specialties.
He also established the NAF operational bases at Makurdi and Kainji, the NAF Regiment,
NAF Junior Command and Staff School and the Air Faculty at the Command and Staff
College, Jaji. He established the NAF Technical Training School Kaduna, to service
the technical training needs of the Service. It was also during his tenure that
the current NAF rank structure was introduced. Before retiring, he initiated the
proposal for the presentation of Service colours to the NAF.
He has held many appointments since his retirement from the Service on 14 April
1980. They include Chairmanship of the Board of Governors National Institute for
Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru; National Institute for International Affairs,
Lagos, Drake and Scull Limited, Niger State Tourism Board, Inter City Bank and the
Nigeria Airways. He was awarded, the Defence Services Medal, National Service Medal,
Republic Medal and the Grand Commander of
the Order of the Niger (GCON) by the Federal
Government. The NAF on its part has honoured him with the Distinguished Flying
Star and Distinguished Service Medal, all in recognition of his meritorious service to
NAF and the country. |
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