Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra Takes Over as SASO, Western Air Command

Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra assumed the role of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Western Air Command on 1 December 2023.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 19 December 1987. Over his career, he flew for more than 3,500 hours, primarily operating MiG-21 variants and the MiG-29 aircraft, showcasing his expertise.

As a Category ‘Aye’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he commanded the No. 47 Squadron, known as ‘The Black Archers,’ during his tenure as a wing commander. He continues to hold the position of Commodore Commandant for the squadron. Notably, he played a pivotal role as one of the founding members of the Indian Air Force’s Formation Aerobatic Team on the indigenous Kiran MK-II aircraft, the ‘Suryakirans’.

His career trajectory included crucial appointments such as air officer commanding air force station Halwara from 2014 to 2017 and various strategic roles at Air Headquarters, including Director Operations, Air Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff, and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations).

He graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies, Canberra, Australia. Before assuming the role of Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command, he served as the Air Officer Commanding Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.