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MEET THE COMMANDANT

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Ali Leks DSS psc(+) fwc Msc

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Ali Leks was born at Daika in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.  He attended the Boys Secondary School, Gindiri from 1970 – 1974.  After his secondary school education, he proceeded to Government College, Keffi for higher school.  He however left after the first session in 1975 to join the Nigerian Air Force as a potential pilot.  He was commissioned as pilot officer in 1978 and got promoted progressively to the present rank    in 2007.  In the course of his career, he has attended several courses, held numerous appointments and earned some awards.

After his basic military training in NDA, he proceeded to the then Nigerian Air Force Primary Flying School in Kaduna as a member    of Student Pilot Course 14 from January to September, 1976.      From there he proceeded to Oxford Air Training School, Kidlington (United Kingdom) for abinicio helicopter pilot training from September 1976 to November 1977.  Thereafter he attended Basic and advance helicopter conversion courses in 1978 at Munich (Germany) and Tarbes (France) respectively.  He also did an Instructor Pilot Course on the UH-1 (Huey) at Fort Rucker, Alabama (USA) and another type rating/instructor pilot upgrade on the Mi-35P at Torzork, Russian Federation in 1988 and Year 2000 respectively.  In the process, he has flown about 2,500 hours on Bulldog, Enstrom F28, Bolkow 105, Puma, Huey and Mi-35p mostly as an operational pilot. He is a Qualified Helicopter Instructor Pilot (QHIP).

In addition to his military training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, AVM Leks attended the Junior Command and Staff Course at the then Command and Staff College, Jaji in 1986.  From 1991 – 1992, he attended the Advance Staff Course at Royal Air Force, Bracknell.  He is also a graduand of the National War College now National Defence College, Abuja.  His non military qualifications include: Diploma in Aeronautics (Oxford), Diploma in English from Defence Language Institute (Lackland Air Force Base USA) and Masters in Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan).

Though he spent most of his career as an operational pilot, he has also held numerous appointments from unit to Headquarters Nigerian Air Force levels and Tri-service institutions.  He served as Administrative Officer of 23 and 27 squadrons from 1978 – 80       and 1980 – 87 respectively.  He also served as Commanding Officer of Academic Wing, 305 Flying Training School and Puma Simulator Wing of the defunct 288 Simulator Group from 1988 – 89 and 1990 respectively.  His other appointments include: Military Assistant to 2 successive AOOs between 1990 and 1994, Directing Staff at CSC Jaji (1994-96), Commanding Officer 207 Wing Port Harcourt (1996), Military Airport Commandant, Port Harcourt International Airport (1997) and Staff Officer Grade 1 Coordination, National War Collage (1997-99).  He has also served as Group Operations Officer at 97 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt and at 99 Air Weapons School (Kainji) in 1997 and from 1999-2000 respectively.  From there, he returned to the Command and Staff College as Chief Instructor briefly in 2000 before he was deployed as Command Operations Officer, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi from 2001-2002.  This was followed by 2 tours of duty as Commander Special Operations Group, NAF, Port Harcourt and Commander 303 Flying Training Group Kano from 2002 – 03  and 2004 – 06 respectively.  Subsequently, he served as: Director Safety in Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (2006), Director Department of Air Warfare, AFCSC (2007) and Senior Air Staff Officer, Tactical Air Command (2007-2008).  He was the Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy before he was appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in  July 2009.

Air Vice Marshal Leks graduated as the Best All Round Flying Cadet of SP 14 and the Best in Academics of Junior Course 2/86, Air Faculty, Command and Staff College, Jaji.

In the course of his career, Air Vice Marshal Leks has trained or visited the following countries: United Kingdom, Germany, France, United States of America, Russian Federation and South Korea.  In Africa, he has been to Corte D’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia and Egypt.

He was married to Susan (Nee Allanso) and the relationship is blessed with 2 children; Rinret, daughter and Makvreng, son.  In his leisure time, Air Vice Marshal Leks plays golf and occasionally, lawn tennis.