Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal Takes Over as Head of IAF’s Eastern Air Command

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi. Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal, AVSM, VM, on November 1, 2026, assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Eastern Air Command (EAC).

Commissioned into the IAF’s flying branch as a fighter pilot on June 14, 1989, Air Marshal Deswal has over 3,200 hours of flying experience on various fighter aircraft. A specialist in strike operations and air defence roles, he is also a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the National Defence College, Air Marshal Deswal has held several important operational and staff appointments during his distinguished career. These include commanding two operational flying bases as Air Officer Commanding and serving as the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron.

He has also served as Air Attaché at the Embassy of India in Pakistan, providing him with diplomatic and strategic exposure in addition to his extensive operational experience. At Air Headquarters, he held the appointment of Director General (Weapon Systems).

Immediately before taking over as the head of the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Deswal was serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Headquarters South Western Air Command (SWAC).

In recognition of his distinguished service to the IAF, he has been conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Vayu Sena Medal (VM).