Director General Air Operations
| Director General of Air Operations | |
|---|---|
Incumbent since 1 May 2026Air Marshal Joseph Suares Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | |
| File:Air Force Ensign of India.svg Indian Air Force | |
| Type | Director General |
| Abbreviation | DGAO |
| Reports to | Vice Chief of the Air Staff |
| Seat | Air Headquarters, New Delhi |
| First holder | Air Marshal Dinesh Chandra Kumaria |
The Director General Air Operations (DGAO) is a senior appointment in the Indian Air Force. The DGAO is responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing all operational aspects of the Indian Air Force. The office is held by a three star officer in the rank of Air Marshal. The current DGAO is Air Marshal Joseph Suares who took over on 1 May 2026.
History
At the time of independence of India, on 15 August 1947, Group Captain Mehar Singh was appointed the head of the operations directorate at Air headquarters and designated Group Captain (Operations).[1]
Around 1962, the directorate was split into two separate entities: the Directorate of Transport & Maritime and the Directorate of Fighters & Bombers. In July 1970, a new post of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) (ACAS (Ops)) was created, with the rank of Air Vice Marshal. Directorates, including Air Defence, Offensive Operations, Transport & Maritime reported into the ACAS (Ops). In 2009, this role was elevated to three-star rank and re-designated Director General (Air Operations). Air Marshal Dinesh Chandra Kumaria took over as the first DGAO on 12 March 2009.[2]
Appointees
| S.No. | Name | Assumed office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Marshal Dinesh Chandra Kumaria Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 12 March 2009 | 30 June 2009 | Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff. |
| 2 | Air Marshal Anjan Gogoi Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 July 2009 | 31 December 2010 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command.[3] |
| 3 | Air Marshal Daljit Singh Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 January 2011 | 28 February 2013 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command.[4] |
| 4 | Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 March 2013 | 31 December 2014 | Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[5] |
| 5 | Air Marshal Anil Khosla Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 12 January 2015 | 21 August 2016 | Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[6] |
| 6 | Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 22 August 2016 | 30 September 2018 | Later served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[7] |
| 7 | Air Marshal Amit Dev Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 October 2018 | 31 October 2018 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command.[8] |
| 8 | Air Marshal Balabhadra Radha Krishna Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 November 2018 | 30 June 2021 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command.[9] |
| 9 | Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 July 2021 | 31 December 2022 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command.[10] |
| 10 | Air Marshal Surat Singh Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 January 2023 | 30 September 2024 | Later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command.[11] |
| 11 | Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 October 2024 | 31 May 2025 | Later Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.[12][13][14] |
| 12 | Air Marshal George Thomas Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 June 2025 | 30 April 2026 | Current Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command.[15] |
| 13 | Air Marshal Joseph Suares Lua error: expandTemplate: template "post-nominals/IND" does not exist. | 1 May 2026 | Present | Current DGAO.[16] |
See also
References
- ↑ "RIAF Appointments" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Operations, Air HQ". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Tribune, The Assam (15 September 2010). "PVSM for Air Marshal Anjan Gogoi". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Marshal Daljit Singh takes over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief HQ South Western Air Command". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Marshal SB Deo takes over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff of Indian Air Force". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air marshal Anil Khosla takes over as Director General Air Operations". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Marshal HS Arora AVSM Takes Over as Director General Air (Operations)". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Marshal Amit Dev Appointed Director General Air (OPS)". raksha-anirveda.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "AIR MARSHAL BR KRISHNA AVSM SC ASSUMES THE COMMAND OF WESTERN AIR COMMAND". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "AIR MARSHAL PANKAJ MOHAN SINHA ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF'S WESTERN AIR COMMAND". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "AIR MARSHAL PANKAJ MOHAN SINHA ASSUMES COMMAND OF IAF'S WESTERN AIR COMMAND". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Indian Air Force". x.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ Yadav, Jyoti (25 May 2025). "Sainik School to Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti is Purnea's pride. 'See! He is on TV'". ThePrint. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ ""World Knows Whose Son Made India Proud": Air Marshal Bharti's Mother". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "HQ IDS". x.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Air Operations, Air HQ". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
