Air Marshal Dhanoa takes over as SASO Western Air Command, IAF

Air Marshal BS Dhanoa on Monday took over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command vice Air Marshal PS Gill, who has taken over as Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Training Command.

Air Marshal Dhanoa was Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command prior to his present appointment. A veteran of Kargil conflict. His squadron was the most decorated Air Force unit during the operation.

Air Marshal Dhanoa was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in July 1978. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and a graduate from the Defence Service Staff College, Wellington the Air Officer has flown over 3000 hours in various frontline operational squadrons and is an A2QFI with flying experience on the MiG-21 and Kiran aircraft.

The Air Officer has held various command and staff appointments, including Chief Operations Officer of a fighter base, Commanding Officer of MiG-21 Squadron and then Station Commander of a fighter base. He also commanded an Indian Military Training Team abroad. His operational experience was the Command of 17 Sqn AF during Operation Safed Sagar / Vijay. The unit was the most decorated Air Force unit during the Kargil conflict.

He has also served as Chief instructor (Air) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air HQ (VB). Prior to assuming the present appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer of Western Air Command the Air Marshal was the Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command.

The Air Officer has been awarded the Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM) .