Teofilus Shaende

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Teofilus Shaende (born 26 June 1977 in Okambembe, Namibia) is a Namibian military officer who has led the Namibian Air Force since 1 April 2020. After finishing school at Dr. Lemmer High School in Rehoboth, he worked as a taxation officer before joining the Namibian Defence Force in 1999. He completed six months of basic training at Osona Military School, earned his private pilot’s license with Westair, and received his pilot wings that same year. He finished the Junior Officers Course in 2001 at Okahandja, then trained in Zambia (conversion and operation flying in 2003; QFI in 2004). In 2005 he became a captain and the second-in-command of 23 Squadron. In 2006 he studied in China in preparation for Namibia’s F7/FT7 jets, and by 2008 he completed FT/F7 flying training; in 2009 he did K-8 instructor training. In February 2010 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served as air defence wing commanding officer during the F7/FT7 commissioning at Grootfontein. He later became Group Captain and Chief of Staff for Air Operations & Training at the Air Force HQ. In 2016 he served as defence attaché in India, was promoted to Air Commodore and named deputy air force commander. On 1 April 2020 he was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and appointed commander of the Namibian Air Force. He has received the Air Force Commander’s Exemplary Medal.