The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM & Bar, as the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) with effect from the afternoon of August 31, 2026. He will succeed Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who retires from service on the same day.
Presently serving as the Director General Medical Services (Air), Air Marshal Thareja brings nearly four decades of distinguished service across the clinical, academic, operational and administrative domains of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, he was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1986. He completed his MD in Medicine in 1997 and later earned a DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 2005, where he received the Best DM Student Award. A highly accomplished military officer, he secured an ‘A’ grading in all military courses and is also an alumnus of the National Defence College.
Throughout his career, Air Marshal Thareja has held several key appointments, including Senior Consultant (Medicine) at the Office of the DGAFMS, Commandant of Military Hospital Pathankot, Commandant of Command Hospital Lucknow, Director and Commandant of AFMC, Pune, and Director General Medical Services (Air).
During his tenure as DGMS (Air), he spearheaded a number of transformational initiatives aimed at strengthening operational medical preparedness across the Armed Forces. His leadership played a key role in enhancing the AFMS’ medical readiness for India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission and in the operationalisation of the BHISHM Cube, significantly improving rapid medical response capabilities for both operational deployments and humanitarian assistance missions.
A distinguished clinician, academician and teacher, Air Marshal Thareja has mentored numerous postgraduate and super-speciality students and has authored more than 50 scientific papers published in reputed national and international medical journals.
In recognition of his exemplary service to the nation, he has been awarded the Sena Medal (SM) and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) twice (VSM & Bar).
With his appointment as DGAFMS, Air Marshal Thareja is expected to lead the Armed Forces Medical Services in further strengthening military healthcare capabilities, operational medical preparedness and medical support for emerging strategic and humanitarian missions.
