Air Marshal Samir Jayasinha Pendse takes over as Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Training Command, IAF
New Delhi. Air Marshal Samir Jayasinha Pendse assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), Training Command, Indian Air Force (IAF) on December 1, 2025. An alumnus of National Defence Academy, the Air Marshal was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) branch of the IAF on December 16, 1989 as a helicopter pilot. In his career spanning over 36 years, he has flown over 5100 Hrs of accident free flying.
During his illustrious service career, the Air Officer has held numerous command and staff assignments. These include command of an Advance HQ, two IAF bases, and a frontline helicopter unit. He has also been part of a UN Mission in Sudan. He is a graduate of the National Defence College (NDC) – Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to assuming the current appointment, the Air Marshal was Inspector General (Air), Border Security Force (BSF), wherein, he was responsible for the Aviation Arm of MHA Air Wing.
He has been awarded Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) in 1997 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 by the Hon’ble President of India.
