Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash was born on 1 October 1942 at Kirenowa in Maiduguri, Borno State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 5 August 1963. He attended various military courses during his career, including the Air Frame Engineer Course on ths L39 Aircraft at Czechoslavakia, Command and Staff College, Jaji and the A-Jet Project Final Course at Dornier Company, West Germany. While in service, he was the Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Air Officer Logistics, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Commandant Nigeria Defence Academy before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff on 7 July 1998. He retired voluntarily on 29 May 1999.