SENIOR AIR STAFF OFFICER, SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND -GS BEDI

Air Marshal GS Bedi, has taken over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), Southern Air Command (SAC) at Thiruvananthapuram with effect from 04 May 2020 on promotion.

He was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot in the flying branch of the Indian Air Force in Jun 1984. He has over 3700 hrs of accident free flying to his credit. Operationally, he has flown MiG-21 and Mirage-2000 aircraft. He took part in the Kargil conflict for which he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). He is a Qualified Flying Instructor with Cat A Instructional Category, a Fighter Combat Leader, a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and an alumni of National Defence College. He has commanded a Fighter Squadron and a front line fighter base.

He has served in some of the prestigious appointments in the IAF such as, Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School, Chief Instructor (Flying) in the Air Force Academy, Air Force Examiner in the Aircrew Examining Board (AEB), Flying Inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) and Air 1 of Western Air Command. He led an IAF contingent in the UN Mission in Congo. He was appointed as the Air Adviser at the High Commission of India, London. He also served as the Air Officer Commanding Jammu & Kashmir and the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Ops (Offensive). In his last appointment he was the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers).

He is the recipient of Presidential awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Special Correspondent