Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the 23rd Chief of Air Staff (CAS), was born on 20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State, and hails from Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State.
He is the son of Air Warrant Officer (Rtd) Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke.
His early education was at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982), and Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987).
He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 10 September 1993.
Aneke holds a B.Sc. in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, and two Master’s degrees, one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja.
He also earned a Professional Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, and is currently pursuing a PhD.
Aneke has attended prestigious military institutions, including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, where he completed both Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where he earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies.
Throughout his career, he has held key command, instructional, and policy positions, including Director of Policy, Director of Safety, Deputy Director of Operations at NAF Headquarters, Command Operations Officer at Tactical Air Command, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Before his appointment as CAS, he served as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, where he enhanced air mobility, improved joint force integration, and strengthened strategic responses in multi-domain operations.
An accomplished pilot, Aneke has over 4,359 flying hours and is type-rated on multiple aircraft, including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000.
His operational experience spans domestic and international theatres, from Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta to United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he served as Chief of Air Operations, Kindu Region.
He has played a key role in enhancing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for counter-insurgency operations.
Decorated with numerous honours, including GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, MSc, MIAD, MPEDS, and USAFWC, Air Vice Marshal Aneke is recognized as a visionary leader, professional aviator, and officer of integrity.
His strategic foresight, calm demeanor, and results-oriented leadership have earned him respect across the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He is married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they have three sons: Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason.
