Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assumed the appointment of the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on 1 September 2026. As the DGAFMS, Air Marshal Thareja will oversee the provision of comprehensive medical support to the defence forces. His appointment comes at a time of significant transformation within the AFMS, with continuing emphasis on operational medical preparedness, jointness, modernisation of military healthcare, digital health, medical research and innovation, human resource development and delivery of high-quality healthcare to serving personnel, veterans and their dependents.

An alumnus of the AFMC, Pune, Air Marshal Thareja was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986. A distinguished physician and gastroenterologist, he completed his MD in medicine from Delhi and DM in gastroenterology from AIIMS, New Delhi.

During an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades, the Air Marshal has held a wide spectrum of clinical, academic, operational and administrative appointments. His important command and administrative assignments include Commandant, 167 Military Hospital, Brigadier In-Charge Administration and Commander Troops, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt and Commandant Command Hospital (Central Command). His tenure at Base Hospital Delhi Cantt during the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by the management of complex and rapidly evolving healthcare and administrative challenges. During his command of Command Hospital, Lucknow, the Detailed Project Report for a new Command Hospital was prepared in record time.

As director and commandant at AFMC Pune, he spearheaded several initiatives aimed at strengthening medical education and research. As DGMS (Air) he gave thrust to Gaganyaan Mission and was the leading force behind Analog experiments to astronaut selection and training. Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) cubes were gifted to the Maldives by the Prime Minister and as part of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Jamaica, Cuba, Sri Lanka and Myanmar under his stewardship.

Prior to taking over as DG AFMS, Air Marshal Thareja laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi to pay homage to the fallen heroes.