The Central Government has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM & Bar, as the next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), placing one of the country’s most experienced military healthcare leaders at the helm of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
He will take over the prestigious position on September 1, 2026, following the retirement of the current DGAFMS, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, on August 31.
An alumnus of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Air Marshal Thareja was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986 and has since built a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years in military medicine, medical education, hospital administration and strategic healthcare planning.
A super-specialist in gastroenterology, he completed his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine from the University of Delhi before earning a DM in Gastroenterology from All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He also holds an M.Phil. in Defence Strategic Studies from the National Defence College.
Throughout his career, Air Marshal Thareja has served in a variety of operational, clinical and leadership roles. His early military service included deployments in high-altitude and counter-insurgency areas as a Regimental Medical Officer, where he provided frontline medical support to troops operating in challenging environments.
He later held key appointments across the Armed Forces healthcare network, including Commandant of Command Hospital, Lucknow, and Director & Commandant of AFMC, Pune. His leadership has been credited with strengthening medical training, healthcare delivery and institutional excellence within the military medical ecosystem.
As Director General Medical Services (Air), a position he has held since February 2025, Air Marshal Thareja has overseen several strategic healthcare initiatives. These include enhancing medical preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission and advancing rapid-response medical capabilities through the operational deployment of the BHISHM Cube system for emergency and humanitarian missions.
Recognised for his outstanding service, Air Marshal Thareja has been honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Bar to the Vishisht Seva Medal for his contributions to military healthcare and leadership.
His appointment comes at a time when the Armed Forces Medical Services are expanding their focus on operational readiness, advanced medical technologies, aerospace medicine and integrated healthcare support for India’s evolving defence requirements. Under his leadership, the AFMS is expected to further strengthen its role in both military and humanitarian healthcare operations.