Air Marshal Akin Dada was born in Lagos on 7 June 1943. He hails from Ipoti-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government of Ekiti State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 1 July, 1964. He then proceeded to India where he trained on various aircraft types. On his return, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 October, 1966. Air Marshal Akin Dada held various senior and command positions in the NAF before his appointment as the CAS on 31 January, 1992. He retired from the military service in 1993.