Sandeep Thareja

Air Marshal
Sandeep Thareja
SM VSM**
47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 September 2026
Chief of Defence StaffN. S. Raja Subramani
Preceded byArti Sarin
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service
December 1986 – Present
Rank Air Marshal
Commands
Service number37884 MED
Awards

Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM** is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is the current and the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services. He was previously serving as the Director General of Medical Services (Air), prior to that he served as the Commandant, Armed Forces Medical College.

Early life and education

The air officer is an alumnus of Armed Forces Medical College, Pune from where he completed his MBBS degree. He then did his MD in Medicine in 1997 and DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in 2005, where he was awarded the Best DM Student Award. He is also an alumnus of National Defence College, New Delhi. He has authored over 50 scientific publications in national and international medical journals.

Military career

He was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986 from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. In a career spanning nearly four decades, the air marshal has held various clinical, academic, operational and administrative appointments. His command and administrative assignments include Commandant, 167 Military Hospital, Brigadier In-Charge Administration and Commander Troops, Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt and Commandant Command Hospital, Central Command.

As a Lieutenant General, he served as the Director & Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College. On permanent secondment to the Indian Air Force, on 12 February 2025, Air Marshal Thareja assumed the appointment of Director General of Medical Services (Air).

On 1 September 2026, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja took over as the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services succeeding Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin.

Awards and decorations

During his career, the air officer has been awarded with the Sena Medal in 2022, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011 and a Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024.

Sena Medal Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal Special Service Medal Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UNAMSIL

References

  1. 1 2 "Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assumed the appointment of the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on September 01, 2026". pib.gov.in. 1 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Lt Gen Thareja to assume post of Director General Medical Services (Air)". The Indian Express. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Lieutenant General Sandeep Thareja Assumes Command as Director of AFMC, Pune". Punekar News. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja appointed as next DGAFMS". pib.gov.in. 31 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja Assumes Charge as Director General Medical Services (Air)". 12 February 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS TO ARMY ON REPUBLIC DAY 2022" (PDF). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Republic Day Decorations 2024". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2026.