# Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar

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

## 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.

## 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. 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.
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. He was later appointed as the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency.
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.
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.

## Awards and decorations

The Air Officer has been awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2025 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014.
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal |
| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Special Service 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

| Rank | Component | Date of rank |
| Pilot Officer | Indian Air Force | 14 June 1985 |
| Flying Officer | Indian Air Force | 14 June 1986 |
| Flight Lieutenant | Indian Air Force | 14 June 1990 |
| Squadron Leader | Indian Air Force | 14 June 1996 |
| Wing Commander | Indian Air Force | 14 May 2002 |
| Group Captain | Indian Air Force | 1 May 2008 |
| Air Commodore | Indian Air Force | 01 February 2011 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Indian Air Force | 2 January 2017 |
| Air Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 November 2021 (AOC-in-C from 1 July 2022) |