Air Marshal Hardeep Bains has officially taken on the role of Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel (AOP) at the Air Headquarters, marking an important leadership transition in the Indian Air Force (IAF). He succeeds Air Marshal S.K. Vidhate, who retired after an impressive 38 years of dedicated service on September 30, 2025.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Flying Branch on December 19, 1987, Air Marshal Bains has established himself as a highly skilled aviator and a qualified Category ‘A’ flying instructor, with over 5,000 hours of accident-free flying. His nearly four-decade-long career is distinguished by a series of key appointments, both in field and staff roles, through which he has significantly enhanced the operational and personnel capabilities of the IAF.
Air Marshal Bains is a well-rounded military strategist, having completed advanced studies at the National War College in South Africa and the National Defence College in Israel. Before his recent appointment, he served as the Commandant of the National Defence College in New Delhi, where he was instrumental in shaping the next generation of military leaders and advancing the field of strategic defence studies.
His exemplary service and leadership have not gone unrecognized. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2012 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2015 by the Hon’ble President of India. His appointment as AOP reflects the Indian Air Force’s ongoing commitment to personnel welfare, operational readiness, and the development of capable leaders, as it continues to evolve into a future-ready aerospace power.
