P. V. Shivanand

Air Marshal Palaparthy Venkat Shivanand, AVSM, VM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command. He previously served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command.

Early life and education He is an alumnus of the 73rd Course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

Military career The air officer was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 17 December 1988 from the Air Force Academy. In a career spanning over three decades, he has over 2800 hours of flying experience on MiG-21 and the IL-76 AWACS and has held various command & staff appointments. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of No. 32 Squadron (Thunderbirds) at Jodhpur and later served as Commanding Officer of No. 50 Squadron (Adwitiya) at Agra. As an Air Commodore, he served as Air Attaché at the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C., USA and later as the Air Officer Commanding of 14 Wing, Chabua, Assam.

As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Air Officer Commanding of 14 Wing, Chabua After getting promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, on 1 June 2025, he assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command. and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2014.

Date of ranks