Air Marshal S. Shrinivas Takes Charge as Training Command Chief
Veteran fighter pilot assumes office as AOC-in-C, Training Command of the Indian Air Force
- Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas appointed AOC-in-C, Training Command
- Over 4,200 flying hours across fighter and trainer aircraft
- Former Commandant of Air Force Academy and Flying Instructors School
- Recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan: Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command of the Indian Air Force on January 1, 2026. After taking over the appointment, the Air Marshal paid homage to the nation’s bravehearts by laying a wreath at the Training Command War Memorial.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Shrinivas was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on June 13, 1987. A ‘Category A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he has accumulated over 4,200 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including MiG-21, Iskra, Kiran, PC-7 Mk II, HPT-32 and Microlite. He is also qualified as a second pilot on Chetak/Cheetah helicopters and is a categorised Operations Officer on the Pechora missile system.
During his distinguished career, he has held several important command appointments. These include Commandant of the Air Force Academy, Air Officer Commanding of a frontline fighter base on the Western border, Commandant of the Flying Instructors School, Commandant of the Institute of Aerospace Safety, and Commanding Officer of the Basic Flying Training School. He has also served as AOC of a premier flying training base and as AOC Advance Headquarters Western Air Command at Jaipur.
His staff assignments include Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel Officers), Chief Instructor (Flying) at the Air Force Academy, Ops Staff at Headquarters Central Air Command, and Directing Staff at the College of Air Warfare. Prior to his present appointment, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters South Western Air Command.
Air Marshal Shrinivas is a graduate of the National Defence College, College of Defence Management and Defence Services Staff College. His academic qualifications include M.Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies, Master of Management Studies, and M.Sc in Defence and Strategic Studies.
In recognition of his meritorious service to the nation, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 by the President of India.
