In 1997, he graduated from Air War Academy, which he had joined in 1995. He was assigned as the Section Chief Officer for Operations Planning at the 1st Air Force Command. In the following years between 1998-2000 he served as the 3rd Cadet Squadron Commander at Air Force Academy, between the years 2000-2003 as the Chief Officer at the Operations Wing at the 1st Main Jet Base Command and as the 112th Squadron Commander and the Chief of Evaluation and Inspection. Between the years 2003-2005; he also acted as the Head of Operations Department at the 1st Air Force Command Headquarters. Between the years 2005-2007, he served as the Commander of NCO College Regiment in the Air Force Technical Schools and was promoted to Brigadier General on August 30th, 2007.

As a Brigadier General, he served as the 11th Air Transportation Base Commander between the years 2007-2010. He also performed the duty of Air Force Intelligence-Planning Management Director between the years 2010-2011 and then having been promoted to Major General, he served as Air Force Intelligence Department Director between 2011-2012, then as the Air Force Technical Schools Commander between 2012-2015.

Having been promoted to Lieutenant General on August 30th, 2015, he served as the Deputy Commander at Combat Air Force Command and Combined Air Operations Centers’ Commander. In August 2016, he was assigned to a one-year duty as the Chief of Evaluation and Inspection Department at the Air Force Headquarters.

He served as Air Force Training Commander between the years 2017-2022 and was promoted to General rank effective from 30th August 2022 with the Supreme Military Council’s Decision. Following his promotion, he was assigned as the Combat Air Force Commander. General KADIOĞLU is the Turkish Air Force Commander since 16th August 2023.

General Ziya Cemal KADIOĞLU is married to Nurgün KADIOĞLU and has two children.