title: Saju Balakrishnan
text: # Saju Balakrishnan
  
  Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the 17th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). He assumed the office on 1 May 2023 succeeding Lieutenant General Ajai Singh.
  
  ## Early life and education
  
  Saju Balakrishnan is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune. He has done the staff course from Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.
  
  ## Career
  
  Saju Balakrishnan was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a career spanning over 37 years, he has as more than 3,200 hours of flying experience across various variants of MiG-21 and Kiran aircraft.
  
  He is an accomplished fighter combat leader and experimental test pilot. He served as the Commanding officer of No. 32 Squadron sporting the MiG-21 Bison and was the first commanding officer of the No. 50 Squadron featuring AWACS aircraft.
  
  As Air Commodore, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 32 Wing at the Jodhpur sector in the South Western Air Command. Later, he did the staff course from Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom.
  
  As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defense Staff, ACIDS (Pers Plans & Force). Later, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Defence, New Delhi.
  
  After his promotion to Air Marshal on 8 March 2022, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command till 30 April 2023.
  
  He took over as the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command on 1 May 2023 from Lieutenant General Ajai Singh. He is the first Indian Air Force Air Marshal in a decade to head the CINAC.
  
  ## Honours and decorations
  
  During his career, Saju Balakrishnan has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and Vayu Sena Medal in 2012 for his service.
  
  | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vayu Sena Medal |
  | - | - |
  