Lyudmil Valkov appointed Chief of Staff of Bulgarian Air Force

Colonel Lyudmil Valkov has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Air Force. The appointment follows a presidential decree and he officially assumes the position on September 1, 2026.

Valkov is a master engineer with extensive command experience. His career includes roles ranging from senior technician to deputy commander of aviation technology and armament at the 3rd Aviation Base in Graf Ignatievo. Most recently, since November 2024, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Resources of the Air Force.

Valkov played a significant role in preparing the Graf Ignatievo air base for the acquisition of F-16 multirole fighters, specifically focusing on organizational structures and training engineering and technical personnel for the integration of the new aircraft.