Saju Balakrishnan was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 1986. 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 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]
^ abcde"Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM Takes Over As 17th Commander-In-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN)" (Press release). PIB. 1 May 2023.
^"Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan takes charge as Chief of Andaman Air Command". The Daily Guardian. 2 May 2023.
^ ab"We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy". Rediff. 10 May 2023.
^"Balakrishnan new head of Port Blair-based command". Hindustan Times. 2 May 2023.
^@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.
^"Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan visits Bidar Air Force station". The Hindu. 9 August 2022.
^"President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2021.
^"368 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2012.
Senior Air Staff Officer – Training Command 8 March 2022 – 30 April 2023
Succeeded by
Surendra Kumar Indoria
January 01, 1970
saju, balakrishnan, marshal, avsm, officer, indian, force, currently, serving, 17th, commander, chief, andaman, nicobar, command, cincan, assumed, office, 2023, succeeding, lieutenant, general, ajai, singh, marshalavsm, vmpersonal, detailsawardsati, vishisht, . 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 Air MarshalSaju BalakrishnanAVSM VMPersonal detailsAwardsAti Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena MedalMilitary serviceAllegiance IndiaBranch service Indian Air ForceYears of service7 June 1986 presentRankAir MarshalUnitNo 32 SquadronNo 50 SquadronCommandsAndaman and Nicobar CommandService number18300 1 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Honours and decorations 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editSaju Balakrishnan is an alumnus of Sanik School Kazhakootam and National Defence Academy Pune He has done the staff course from Royal College of Defence Studies United Kingdom 2 Career editSaju Balakrishnan was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on June 1986 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 amp 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 editDuring 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 nbsp nbsp Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena MedalReferences edit a b c Air Marshal Balakrishnan Saju Bharat Rakshak Retrieved 1 May 2023 a b c d e Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM VM Takes Over As 17th Commander In Chief Andaman amp Nicobar Command CINCAN Press release PIB 1 May 2023 Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan takes charge as Chief of Andaman Air Command The Daily Guardian 2 May 2023 a b We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy Rediff 10 May 2023 Balakrishnan new head of Port Blair based command Hindustan Times 2 May 2023 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 Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan visits Bidar Air Force station The Hindu 9 August 2022 President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry amp other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day Press release PIB 25 January 2021 368 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced Press release PIB 25 January 2012 Military offices Preceded byAjai Singh Commander in Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command1 May 2023 Incumbent Succeeded byIncumbent Preceded byB Chandra Sekhar Senior Air Staff Officer Training Command8 March 2022 30 April 2023 Succeeded bySurendra Kumar Indoria Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saju Balakrishnan amp oldid 1221847586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
