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History of The Nigerian Air Force |
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Former Chiefs of Air Staffs
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AIR MARSHAL JD WUYEP (2001-2005) |
Air Marshal Jonah Domfa Wuyep became the 14th Chief of the Air Staff, Nigerian Air
Force on 24 April 2001. He
was born at Pil-Gani in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State on 23 November 1948. Air Marshal Wuyep attended the Native
Authority Primary School Shendam from 1959 to 1964 before proceeding to Government
Teachers College Toro, in Bauchi State from 1966 to 1969.
Air Marshal Wuyep was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a young air
force cadet in 1970 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in April 1973. He attended the Junior Command and Staff College in Pakistan in 1980
and the Senior Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Jaji from 1983 to
1984. He also attended the National War College, Nigeria from 1993 to 1994.
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His professional and military training encompassed flying training on a wide-range
of aircraft and courses of instruction in Nigeria and overseas. He did his primary flying training in Kaduna Nigeria, but earned his wings as a qualified pilot in
the United States Air Force. In the course of his career as a pilot, Air Marshal
Wuyep flew both jet and transport aircraft. He started his flying course on the Piaggio 149D aircraft before proceeding to USAF where he flew the T-41 Primary Trainer,
T-37 basic Jet Trainer and the T-38 Supersonic Trainer aircraft. Air Marshal Wuyep
later returned to USA where he trained as an Instructor Pilot on the T- 38 Jets.
On his return to Nigeria in August 1974, he was deployed as an instructor pilot
on the L-29 Delphin at the then Basic Flying Training School (now 303 FTS), Kano.
He later flew the C-130 aircraft on which he spent most of his flying career.
His stint on the C-130 saw
him participate in airlift operations in Eastern and
Southern Africa in support of the struggles for independence in Mozambique, Zimbabwe
and Namibia. He also flew airlift missions in support of the United Nations Peace-Keeping
Force in Lebanon and many other humanitarian missions both within and outside Nigeria.
Air Marshal Wuyep spent part of his 33 years in the NAF in a variety of command
and staff positions. His first command appointment was as an adjutant of NAF Station, Kano in 1975. He later moved to the C-130 Wing of the ATG, Ikeja where he served
as an Administrative Officer of the Wing in addition to his flying duties. He was
appointed the Commanding Officer of the Wing from 1974 to 1980. He also served at
the defunct Military Airlift Command in Ibadan, Nigeria during the same period.
He was appointed the Group Operations Officer, ATG from 1984 to 1986. In 1988, he
became the Commander ATG, a position he held up till 1990. He then proceeded to
the Command and Staff College Jaji, where he served as the Chief Instructor at the
Air Faculty from 1992 to 1993. Air Marshal Wuyep, then a Group Captain, was appointed
the Commander of 301 FTS, Kaduna in 1994. He became the Senior Air Staff Officer,
HQ TAC
Makurdi in 1997. He later became the Director of Operations HQ NAF before
his appointment as AOC TC in 1999. Air Marshal Wuyep was appointed the Air Officer
Operations at HQ NAF in June 2000, an appointment he held until April 2001 when
he became the Chief of the Air Staff. He was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 1 October 2001.
Air Marshal Wuyep’s awards and decorations include the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Distinguished Flying Star and Fellow of
the National War College, Nigeria. He was awarded the National Honour of Commander
of the Federal Republic (CFR). |
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