Vibhas Pande

Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, AVSM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served the 37th Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Maintenance Command. He assumed the office on 14 June 2022 succeeding Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary.

Early life and education
Vibhas Pande is an alumnus of Government Engineering College, Jabalpur and IIT Mumbai and was recipient of ERTL (W) Bombay Gold Medal for his outstanding performance during the course. He is also an alumnus of College of Air Warfare and National Defence College, New Delhi.

Career
Vibhas Pande was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has been trained on the MiG-23 and Antono An-32 planes and well as Mil Mi-17 helicopters.

As a flight engineer he has flown the Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-17 helicopters and served the Air Force examiner for the rotary wing platform.

As Air Commodore, he served as the Command Engineering Officer at the Western Air Command and later served as Air Officer Commanding at the 11 Base Repair Depot.

As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS), Engineering Transport and Helicopter in New Delhi. Later, he served as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command.

He had been the founder Commanding Officer of Central Indigenisation and Manufacturing Depot (CIMD), Nashik.

As Air Marshal, he was appointed as the  Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance on 1 January, 2020.

He took over as the 37th Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command on 14 June 2022 from Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary.

Honours and decorations
During his career, Vibhas Pande has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 for his service.

Personal life
Air Marshal Vibhas Pande is a qualified astrologer and an avid sportsman. He enjoys playing Squash and Golf. He is married to Mrs Ruchira Pande and is blessed with two daughters namely Wing Commander Adrika Pande and Lieutenant (Dr) Anushka A Pande who pursue the same fields of interest.