Alex Sabundu Badeh

Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (born 10 January 1957) is a senior Nigerian Air Force officer and current Chief of the Defence Staff.

Early life and education
Badeh was born on 10 January 1957 in the village of Vintim in Adamawa State. He graduated from the Villanova Secondary School in Numan, Adamawa State in 1976 with his school certificate. He was admitted into in the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 Regular Course on 3 January 1977.

Military career
On 3 July 1979, Badeh was commissioned in the Nigerian Air Force a pilot officer. His flying career started at the 301 Flying Training School in 1979, piloting a Scottish Aviation Bulldog trainer. From 1981 to 1982 he undertook flight training in the United States at Vance Air Force Base. He undertook the Junior and Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in 1988 and 1995-96, respectively.

He was Commanding Officer of the Administration, Operations and Support Wings, and in 2002 became commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, which he served as until 2004. Badeh possesses a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. In October 2010 he was appointed Chief of Policy & Plans at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters which he served as until March 2012, when he was made the Air Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna.

On 4 October 2012 he was appointed the 18th Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force.

Chief of the Defence Staff
On 16 January 2014 he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In October 2014 his hometown of Vimtim was captured by Boko Haram. That month, he defended the death sentence imposed on 12 soldiers who had fled an engagement with Boko Haram militants.

Personal life
He is married to Mary Iyah Badeh, with whom he as three children. He is fond of golf.