Air Marshal Devendra P Hirani Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command

Air Marshal Devendra P Hirani assumed charge as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Headquarters Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force on February 1, 2026. His appointment marks the induction of a highly experienced officer into a key operational and administrative role at the Command.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on December 15, 1990, Air Marshal Hirani is a Qualified Flying Instructor with nearly 5,000 hours of flying experience on a wide range of helicopters and trainer aircraft. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and has undergone advanced professional military education at the Defence Services Staff College, the College of Defence Management, and the National Defence College in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

During his distinguished career, Air Marshal Hirani has commanded a training unit as well as important frontline air bases in the Northern Sector. He has also held several critical staff appointments at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Air Headquarters, various Command Headquarters, and Headquarters Army Officer Commanding (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh). He has served as an inspector with the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection.

The Air Marshal has also represented India on the global stage, having been deputed to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. Prior to assuming his current responsibility, he served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel, Airmen and Civilians).

In recognition of his meritorious and distinguished service, Air Marshal Devendra P Hirani was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2022.