Affendi Buang


Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hj Affendi Bin Hj Buang is a Malaysian Air Force General who serves as the 21st Chief of Defence Forces. Prior to his assignment, he previously served as the Chief of Air Force.

Background

He was born at Kuching, Sarawak on 21 August 1962. He finished his early education at his hometown, and completed his education at the Royal Military College, at Sungai Besi, until he finished his Malaysian Certificate of Examination in 1979.
He joined the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1980 as an RMAF Officer Cadet, and received his basic training at the Officer Cadet School, Sebatang Kara, at Port Dickson. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1982, and was assigned to No 3 Flying Training Centre at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan.
He attended various courses and seminars in the country and abroad, such as the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in 1997, the Defences and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies at Australia in 2005, and the Royal College of Defence Studies at London in 2011.
He also holds a Master of Art at the Deakin University, Australia.
A trained and skilled fighter pilot, he flew various aircraft including the Aermacchi MB-339, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and the Mikoyan MiG-29, and performed various air support and interdiction missions. He was also among the founding officers of the "Smokey Bandits" Aerobatics Team. He rose through the ranks until he was promoted as the Director General for Operations and Exercises, RMAF Air Operations Command in 2014, became the Deputy Chief of the Air Force in 2015, became the Chief of Air Force in 2016–2020, and became the Chief of Defence Forces on January 2, 2020.

Awards and decorations