Vasily Filippovich Margelov (Russian: Василий Филиппович Маргелов; Belarusian: Васі́ль Пілі́павіч Марге́лаў; 27 December [O.S. 14 December] 1908 – 4 March 1990) was a Red Army General who was the commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) from 1954 to 1959 and from 1961–1979. Margelov modernized the VDV and was a Hero of the Soviet Union. Author Carey Schofield wrote that Margelov "...is considered to be the real father of the VDV...[leading]...them through their most vital period of development."