In a key development for the Indian Air Force’s healthcare framework, Air Vice Marshal Arijit Sen has officially taken charge as the Principal Medical Officer (PMO) at the Headquarters of the Eastern Air Command (EAC), Shillong.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Vice Marshal Sen is a distinguished onco-pathologist, a specialization that has gained greater importance in India amid the rising cancer burden.
Before this appointment, he served as Air Commodore (Standardisation) in the office of the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), where he played a pivotal role in strengthening healthcare protocols and standardization within the military medical system. His elevation to Air Vice Marshal reflects both his leadership and academic contributions, particularly as a respected postgraduate teacher.
The Eastern Air Command, responsible for operations across a vast 300,000-square-kilometer area, holds immense strategic significance, particularly along India’s eastern frontier. The command has historically been central to operations, including during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and continues to play a crucial role in missions such as aerial supply operations to remote tribal regions in Arunachal Pradesh, where difficult terrain makes runways unfeasible.
Founded in 1948 on the recommendations of the BC Roy Committee, AFMC Pune has produced over 6,000 military doctors and remains a cornerstone of medical excellence for the armed forces. With his appointment, Air Vice Marshal Sen is expected to further strengthen medical readiness and healthcare support within the EAC, aligning with the IAF’s continued focus on operational preparedness.
This appointment underscores the IAF’s commitment to ensuring robust medical support for air warriors and their families, reinforcing the backbone of its operational efficiency in the eastern theatre.
