Air Marshal
Saju Balakrishnan
AVSM VM
Personal details
AwardsAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayu Sena Medal
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service7 June 1986 – present
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo.32 Squadron
No. 50 Squadron
CommandsAndaman and Nicobar Command
Service number18300[1]

Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the 17th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). He assumed the office on 1 May 2023 succeeding Lieutenant General Ajai Singh.[2]

Early life and education

Saju Balakrishnan is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune. He has done the staff course from Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.[2]

Career

Saju Balakrishnan was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 3,200 hours of flying experience across various variants of MiG-21 and Kiran aircraft.[3]

He is an accomplished fighter combat leader and experimental test pilot. He served as the Commanding officer of No. 32 Squadron sporting the MiG-21 Bison and was the first commanding officer of the No. 50 Squadron featuring AWACS aircraft.[1][2]

As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 32 Wing at the Jodhpur sector in the South Western Air Command. Later, he did the staff course from Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.[1][2][4]

As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defense Staff, ACIDS (Pers Plans & Force). Later, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Defence, New Delhi.[5]

After his promotion to Air Marshal on 8 March 2022, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command till 30 April 2023.[6][7]

He took over as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command on 1 May 2023 from Lieutenant General Ajai Singh. He is the first Indian Air Force Air Marshal in a decade to head the CINAC.[4][2]

Honours and decorations

During his career, Saju Balakrishnan has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and Vayu Sena Medal in 2012 for his service.[8][9]

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Air Marshal Balakrishnan Saju". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM Takes Over As 17th Commander-In-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN)" (Press release). PIB. 1 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan takes charge as Chief of Andaman Air Command". The Daily Guardian. 2 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 "We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy". Rediff. 10 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Balakrishnan new head of Port Blair-based command". Hindustan Times. 2 May 2023.
  6. ↑ @Prodef_blr (10 March 2022). "Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), at Head Quarters, Training Command (TC) of Indian Airforce, at Bengaluru on 08 Mar 2022" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan visits Bidar Air Force station". The Hindu. 9 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "368 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2012.
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