Alexander Zelin

Alexander Nikolayevich Zelin
Александр Николаевич Зелин
Born (1953-05-06) 6 May 1953 (age 73)
Perevalsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
EducationKharkov Higher Aviation School of Pilots
Gagarin Air Force Academy
Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia
Military career
AllegianceSoviet Union (to 1991)
Russia
Branch
Soviet Air Force
Russian Air Force
Service years
1976–2012
Rank
Colonel General
CommandsCommander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force
4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
14th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
AwardsOrder of St. George, Order of Merit, Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian Federation

Alexander Nikolayevich Zelin (born 6 May 1953) served as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force from 9 May 2007 until 27 April 2012. Zelin holds the Air Force rank of colonel-general. Since May 2012 Zelin has been an adviser to the Russian Defence Minister.[citation needed]

Early life and education

Alexander Zelin was born on 6 May 1953, in Perevalsk, Voroshilovgrad Oblast, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine). He graduated from Kharkov Higher Aviation School of Pilots (now part of the Ivan Kozhedub National University of the Air Force) in 1976 as a distinguished graduate. Zelin's later education included the Gagarin Air Force Academy, graduating in 1988, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia in 1997.

Military career

Zelin and Putin at MAKS 2011

Zelin began his service in the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, stationed at Eberswalde, East Germany. As a pilot he has about 3,000 flight hours on ten types of aircraft. He went on to hold several command roles, and during the 1980s he was the deputy commander of the 115th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in the Turkestan Military District.

From August 2002 to May 2007 he served as Chief of aviation – Air Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief for aviation.

On May 9, 2007, he became the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, replacing Army General Vladimir Mikhaylov.

On April 27, 2012, he was dismissed from his post and military service. No reason was given. He was succeeded by Viktor Bondarev.

Honours and awards

Russian Federation

Soviet Union

Notes

  1. ↑ Russian: Александр Николаевич Зелин

References

  1. ↑ Russia Air Force Handbook. Int'l Business Publications. 2007-02-07. pp. 229–. ISBN 9781433041150. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Зелин Александр Николаевич". Kommersant (in Russian). 28 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Зелин Александр Николаевич". Moscow State Institute of International Relations (in Russian). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  4. ↑ http://www.armstass.su/?page=article&aid=106155&cid=25 Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)