New Delhi, October 27, 2026: Air Marshal Vikram Gaur, AVSM, VSM, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence. He is the first Indian Air Force officer to hold this position.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in higher defence management. The DMA, established in January 2020 as part of major reforms and headed by the Chief of Defence Staff (who also serves as its Secretary), is responsible for promoting jointness among the three Services, integrated headquarters matters, and related functions. Previously, the Additional Secretary post in the DMA has been held by officers from the Army and Navy.
Air Marshal Gaur is an accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,200 hours of flying experience on various fighter aircraft, including the Su-30MKI. He is fully operational on four different types of fighter aircraft, a Qualified Flying Instructor, and an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner. He is also cleared for low-level aerobatics on the Su-30MKI.
Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 15 December 1990 as a pilot in the Flying Branch (146 Course), he is a graduate of the National Defence Academy (77 NDA). He has held several key command and staff appointments. As a Wing Commander, he commanded No. 20 Squadron (a frontline Su-30MKI unit) at Pune from November 2008 to December 2010. In this role, the squadron achieved high training and operational standards, including formulation of standard operating procedures, the first weapons camp, and field testing of air-to-ground weaponry.
Other notable appointments include Air Attaché at the Embassy of India in Kabul, Afghanistan (2015–2018); Air Officer Commanding of No. 40 Wing at Maharajpur (Gwalior); various staff roles at Air Headquarters, including Air Staff Requirements and C4ISR; and Air Officer Commanding, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (as Air Vice Marshal, from December 2023 to October 2024). He subsequently served as Joint Secretary (Air and Staff Duties) in the DMA from October 2024, during which he was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal in July 2026.
Air Marshal Gaur has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (2013) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2021). He also received a Chief of the Air Staff Commendation in 2003 and participated in Operation Safed Sagar. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College.
His elevation to Additional Secretary brings extensive operational and staff experience in air power, joint operations, and sensitive theatres such as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to the DMA. The appointment is expected to further strengthen inter-service coordination and the integration of air force perspectives in higher defence planning.
This development aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance jointness and professionalise military affairs within the Ministry of Defence.
