Air Marshal Vibhas Pande assumes command of IAF Maintenance Command

New Delhi: Air Marshal Vibhas Pande assumed command of Maintenance Command, IAF on 14 Jun 22 as its 37th Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

According to the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Vibhas Pande succeeds Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary who superannuated on 31 May after 38 years of distinguished service in IAF.

Air Marshal Pande was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) branch on 29 Aug 1984. He is trained on MiG-23 BN and AN-32 aircraft as well as MI-17 helicopters. As a Flight Engineer, he has flown Mi-8 & Mi-17 helicopters and has been an Air Force Examiner for rotary-wing aircraft.

He is a Post Graduate in Reliability Engineering from IIT Powai, Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of College of Air Warfare, Hyderabad and National Defence College, Delhi.

During his career spanning more than 37 years, the Air Marshal has held the appointments of Senior Production Engineer at Base Repair Depot at Ojhar, Nasik; Commanding Officer of Air Armament Inspection Wing, Directing Staff at College of Air Warfare and Command Engineering Officer at Headquarters Western Air Command. He had been founder Commanding Officer of Central Indigenisation and Manufacturing Depot (CIMD) Nasik and also commanded Base Repair Depot, Ojhar (Nasik).

He has tenanted the appointments of Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at Headquarters Eastern Air Command; Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS) Engg (Transport and Helicopters) and Director General (Aircraft) at Air Headquarters.

Prior to assuming his present appointment, he was Air Officer-in-charge Maintenance (AOM) at Air Headquarters.

The Air Officer is a recipient of Aiti Vishist Seva Medal and Vishist Seva Medal.

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