CinC ANC
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, Commander-in-chief, Andaman Nicobar Command
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakwasla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 07 Jun 1986.
A Fighter combat leader with more than 3200 hrs of accident free fighter flying experience on various variants of MiG-21 and Kiran ac, and was CO of a Bison Sqn. He was also the first Commanding Officer of AWACS Sqn and was responsible for its induction and operationalisation into IAF. He was Air Officer Commanding at 32 Wg during 2013-14.For his distinguished Service, he has been awarded Presidential Awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (Jan 2021) and Vayu Sena Medal (Jan 2012).
He is an alumnus of Defence Service Staff College and RCDS and been a directing staff at College of Air Warfare. He has held staff appointments at HQ Training Command, HQ Central Air Command as Air-I, Air HQ as Principal Director Operations (Air Defence), Principal Director C4ISR, Assistant Chief of the Integrated Defence Services at HQ IDS & Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations ( Air Defence). Before assuming the present appointment of C-in-C ANC on 01 May 2023, he was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer HQ Training Command.
He is married to Mrs Latha Saju and has a daughter and a son.
