Shillong, November 6, 2026: Air Marshal Sanjeev Vashishth has taken over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command (EAC), with the charge assumed on November 1, 2026. The posting places a senior officer with more than three decades of service into a key command appointment at Shillong.
An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Marshal Vashishth was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 13, 1992. The source states that his career spans more than 34 years and includes over 3,500 hours of flying experience, reflecting long exposure to military aviation and helicopter operations.
Operational and Staff Experience
Over the course of his service, Air Marshal Vashishth has held several important operational and leadership appointments. He has commanded a helicopter unit and two frontline air bases, giving him experience in managing air operations, operational preparedness and personnel at the unit level.
He has also served in key staff appointments at Air Headquarters and Command Headquarters. In those roles, he contributed to operational planning and to the administration of the Indian Air Force.
Before moving to Eastern Air Command, he served as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations – Transport and Helicopter) at Air Headquarters. In that appointment, he was associated with the operational aspects of the IAF’s transport and helicopter fleets, which are used for military logistics, troop movement and operational support.
Role at Eastern Air Command
As SASO of Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Vashishth will oversee operational planning, coordination and preparedness across the command’s area of responsibility. The appointment is significant because Eastern Air Command is headquartered in Shillong and covers a strategically important region that includes India’s northeastern frontier.
The command is responsible for Indian Air Force operations in the eastern sector and plays a crucial role in maintaining air defence readiness and supporting military operations. The source indicates that close coordination and sustained preparedness remain central to the command’s functioning.
With his experience in flying, command and staff assignments, Air Marshal Vashishth now occupies one of the Indian Air Force’s important leadership posts in the east. The appointment comes at a time when operational readiness remains a core responsibility of the service.
