Air Marshal Sandeep Singh PVSM AVSM VM ADC demitted the office of the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on his superannuation from the IAF on 31 January 2023, after completion of 39 years of illustrious service to the nation. On the occasion of handing over of the office of VCAS, he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Headquarters, following which he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour those Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
The Air Marshal was commissioned in the IAF as a Fighter Pilot on 22 December 1983. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and National Defence College. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor. He has flown several aircraft and has nearly 4900 hours of operational and test flying experience on Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, Kiran, AN-32, AVRO, Jaguar and Mirage 2000. He has played a key role in the induction, production and weaponization of the Su-30 MKI aircraft in India.
He held several important field assignments in his career including Project Test Pilot of the Su-30 Project Team at Moscow, Commanding Officer of a frontline Su-30MKI Sqn, Chief Test Pilot at ASTE, Commander of two Flying Bases, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans), Commandant ASTE, Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. He was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command before taking over as the VCAS.
In recognition of his meritorious services of an exceptionally high order, the Air Marshal was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013 and Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in 2022. He was appointed as honorary Air ADC to the President of India on 30 September 2021.
