TNI Commander Leads KSAU Handover Ceremony

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto (left) handed over the Indonesian Air Force Pataka Flag to Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono (right)

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto led the handover ceremony for the position of Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) from TNI Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo to TNI Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono at Halim Perdanakusuma Airfield (Lanud), Friday, April 4. The handover ceremony for KSAU from TNI Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo to TNI Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono was held at around 13.43 WIB. The handover ceremony was opened with TNI General Agus riding a combat vehicle while monitoring all Air Force troops who attended the ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base. After getting into the car, the handover session of the position was held. It was seen that TNI Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo gave the TNI AU Pataka Flag to the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto. The TNI Commander gave the flag to TNI Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono as a symbolization to become KSAU. "Implement the mandate of office and as well as possible and make innovative breakthroughs," said the Commander in his remarks at the handover ceremony, quoted from Antara. Several officials attended the handover ceremony for the position, including the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) RI Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief General Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Deputy Minister of Defense Muhammad Herindra, Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali and Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak. Previously, President Joko Widodo appointed TNI Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono as KSAU replacing TNI Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo. Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana said that the appointment of Marsdya Tonny as KSAU was stated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 20/TNI/2024 which was signed on March 25, 2024. "The president has signed Presidential Decree No. 20/TNI/2024 dated March 25, 2024 regarding the honorific dismissal of TNI Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo from his position as KSAU, and the appointment of TNI Intermediate Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono as the new KSAU," Ari said in a short message in Jakarta, Tuesday. This replacement for the KSAU was carried out because Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo would retire on April 9, 2024. Marshal Fadjar has served as KSAU since being inaugurated by the President at the State Palace on May 20, 2020. At that time, Fadjar was inaugurated as KSAU along with TNI Admiral Yudo Margono who was inaugurated as Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL).

Both were inaugurated based on Presidential Decree Number 32 and 33/TNI/2020 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of KSAL and KSAU as well as Presidential Decree Number 34 and 35/TNI/2020 concerning the Promotion of Ranks in the TNI High Officers Group.