New Delhi: Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal assumed charge as the air officer commanding in chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command on Sunday. He assumed the appointment after serving as the senior air staff officer at the headquarters of South Western Air Command. His new role follows a career spanning more than three decades in the IAF, with experience in fighter operations, squadron command and senior staff appointments.
AM Deswal was commissioned into the IAF’s flying branch as a fighter pilot on June 14, 1989. He has served as air attaché at the embassy of India in Pakistan and held several operational and staff appointments during his career. Before his latest posting, he served as director general (weapon systems) at Air Headquarters.
Who is Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal?
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), AM Deswal is a fighter pilot with over 3,200 hours of flying experience, defence ministry said. He is qualified to operate Hunter, Jaguar, Su-30K and Su-30MKI aircraft, Bharat Rakshak reported. He is also a qualified pilot attack instructor and specializes in strike aircraft and air defence roles.
He was also part of the core team inducted to operate the Su-30K aircraft in the IAF in 1997.
According to report, under his command, the squadron achieved full operational readiness of its aircrew within four months of its reorganization. It also won the Team Event Bombing Trophy during Exercise Eklavya of Central Air Command in 2009-10.
Other positions held by him include being air officer commanding of No 45 Wing in Sirsa from June 2017 till December 2018 and No 33 Wing in Jamnagar from January 2020. He then went on to hold the position of assistant chief of air staff (inspection) in Air Headquarters from August 2022 till July 2024, after which he was posted at Strategic Forces Command.
AM Deswal is also an alumnus of the National Defence College. He has received the Vayu Sena Medal for devotion to duty and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.