Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar

Last updated
Air Marshal
Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar
PVSM AVSM
Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar.jpg
48th Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 October 2024
Service Number17841 [1]
Awards

Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar, PVSM, AVSM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the 48th Vice Chief of the Air Staff. [2] He previously served as the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, [3] prior to that he was the Senior Air Staff Officer of the South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar. [4] He also served as the first Director General of the newly formed Defence Space Agency at Bengaluru. [5]

Contents

Early life and education

He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. He then attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and USAF Air War College, Montgomery. [6]

Career

Air Marshal Dharkar was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 14 June 1985 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. In a distinguished career spanning over 38 years, he has tenanted various staff and instructional appointments. He has flying experience of over 3,600 hours. He has flown various types of jet fighter and trainer aircraft and has significant experience in ground attack / strike roles, predominantly on the MiG-23 BN & MiG 27 aircraft. He has commanded a front line fighter squadron and a Fighter Flying Training Establishment. [7] He has instructional experience in conducting professional military education for medium and senior level officers at the Defence Services Staff College and was directing staff at the College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad. [8]

As Wing Commander, he has commanded the No. 18 squadron. He then took over as Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station, Bidar. After being promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he served as Air Defence Commander at Eastern Air Command, Shillong, Assistant Chief of Air Staff at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi. [9] He was later appointed as the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency. [10]

After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, he assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command on 1 November 2021. A year later on 1 October 2022 Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik when the latter superannuated from service on 30 September 2022. [11]

On 3 October 2024, Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar took over as the 48th Vice Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh upon his elevation as the Chief of Air Staff. [12]

Awards and decorations

During his career, he has been awarded with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014 [13] and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023. [14]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg
IND Operation Parakram medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg 75yearmedal.svg
IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Indian IAF OF-1a.svg Pilot Officer Indian Air Force14 June 1985 [9]
Indian IAF OF-1b.svg Flying Officer Indian Air Force14 June 1986 [9]
Indian IAF OF-2.svg Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force14 June 1990 [9]
Indian IAF OF-3.svg Squadron Leader Indian Air Force14 June 1996 [9]
Indian IAF OF-4.svg Wing Commander Indian Air Force14 May 2002 [9]
Indian IAF OF-5.svg Group Captain Indian Air Force1 May 2008 [9]
Indian IAF OF-6.svg Air Commodore Indian Air Force01 February 2011 [9]
Indian IAF OF-7.svg Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force2 January 2017 [9]
Indian IAF OF-8.svg Air Marshal Indian Air Force1 November 2021 (AOC-in-C from 1 July 2022) [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar". Bharat Rakshak. 2022-12-29.
  2. ↑ "Air Marshal SP Dharkar Assumes Charge As Air Staff's Vice Chief". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  3. ↑ "S P Dharkar new chief of IAF Eastern Air Command". The Economic Times. 2022-10-01. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  4. ↑ "SP Dharkar new chief of IAF Eastern Air Command". India Today. 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  5. ↑ "Defence Space Agency will be based at Bengaluru". www.asianage.com. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  6. ↑ "Air Marshal SP Dharkar". Indian Air Force.
  7. ↑ "Eastern Air Command - IAF". Indian Air Force. 2022-12-29. Archived from the original on 2022-12-29.
  8. ↑ "Air Marshal SP Dharkar to be the next IAF Vice Chief". ANI News. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Service Record for Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar 17841 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  10. ↑ "Defence Space Agency will be based at Bengaluru". Deccan Chronicle. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  11. ↑ "Air Marshal Dharkar is the new Eastern Air Commander". Asian Age. 2022-10-01.
  12. ↑ "Air Marshal SP Dharkar Assumes Charge As Vice Chief Of Air Staff". Times Now. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  13. ↑ "368 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  14. ↑ "President approves 412 Gallantry awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 2023-01-25.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Air Staff
3 October 2024 - Present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command
1 October 2022 – 30 September 2024		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Air Staff Officer - South Western Air Command
1 November 2021 – 30 September 2022		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Post Established
 Director General - Defence Space Agency
1 November 2019 – 9 June 2021		Succeeded by
Dhananjay Vasant Khot
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