Brigadier General Godfrey Gasana has officially handed over his role as Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff to Colonel Dan Gatsinzi, following his recent appointment as Presidential Pilot and Advisor on Air Force matters.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday, January 26 at Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Headquarters, the RDF said in a statement shared on its official X account.
The ceremony formalises changes announced last week after President Paul Kagame appointed Brig Gen Gasana as Presidential Pilot and Advisor to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Air Force matters.
Gasana, a seasoned military aviator, had been serving as Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff before his appointment to the new role. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in June 2023.
In his new position, Brig Gen Gasana is expected to provide strategic advice on Air Force operations while assuming operational responsibility as Presidential Pilot, a role that places him at the centre of high-level aviation and defence coordination.
Colonel Dan Gatsinzi, who takes over as Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, was named to the position in the same set of appointments announced by the RDF on Saturday, January 24.
The RDF said the leadership transition is part of routine command changes aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and continuity within the Air Force.
“All appointments take immediate effect,” the RDF previously said.
The Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff plays a key role in overseeing operations, planning, training, and readiness of the Rwanda Defence Force Air Force.
Prince Ruzigana / The Kaminuza Star