Sadhna Saxena Nair

Military Doctor

Indian New Delhi

Quick Info

ProfessionMilitary Doctor
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth01/09/1964
Age61 years
BirthplaceNew Delhi

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Bio/Wiki

Famous ForBeing the first woman to be appointed as the Director General of Medical Services (Army)

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 5" (165 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

School(s)
  • St Mary's Convent School, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
  • Loreto Convent School, Lucknow
  • Loreto Convent Intermediate College, Lucknow
College/UniversityArmed Forces Medical College, Pune
Qualifications
  • MBBS
  • Postgraduation in Family Medicine
  • Diplomas in Maternal and Child Health and Health Care Management
  • Two-year training in Medical Informatics from AIIMS, New Delhi

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Family

FatherAir Commodore Vinod Kumar Saxena (Specialist in Community Medicine)
MotherManorama Saxena
SiblingsBrother - Military Doctor
SpouseAir Marshal Karath Padmadass Nair (Retired)
ChildrenSon - Squadron Leader (Fighter Pilot in the Indian Air Force)

Career

Service/Branch
  • Indian Army
  • Indian Air Force
  • Indian Army Medical Corps
RankLieutenant General (Indian Army)
CorpsArmy Medical Corps
Service Years26 December 1985 - Present
Service Number18197 MED MS-11842|MR-05977
Career Ranks
  • 03 December 1986 - Flight Lieutenant
  • 05 December 1991 - Squadron Leader
  • 14 January 2000 - Wing Commander
  • 23 January 2009 - Acting Group Captain
  • 01 January 2009 - Group Captain
  • 21 July 2015 - Acting Air Commodore
  • 25 January 2021 - Acting Air Vice Marshal
  • 24 December 2020 - Air Vice Marshal
  • 23 Oct 2023 - Acting Air Marshal
  • 04 June 2015 - Air Commodore
  • 23 October 2023 - Acting Air Marshal
  • 23 October 2023 - Air Marshal
  • 01 August 2024 - Lieutenant General
Military Decorations
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Western Air Command (2001)
  • Chief of the Air Staff Commendations (2006)
  • Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
  • Vishisht Seva Medal
  • Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command Commendation
Key Positions
  • Principal Medical Officer, Western Air Command, Indian Air Force
  • Principal Medical Officer, Training Command, Indian Air Force
  • Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) - 23 October 2023
  • Director General Medical Services (Army) - 01 August 2024

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Sadhna Saxena Nair hails from a military family that has been serving in the armed forces since the 1950s.
2. She was commissioned into the Indian armed forces as a military doctor on 26 December 1985.
3. After a year, she transitioned to the Indian Air Force.
4. Sadhna pursued further education including a two-year training in medical informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi.
5. She has trained in CBRN warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in military medical ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces.
6. She has authored two research studies on health topics related to children and hospital operations.
7. Sadhna was nominated as an expert member of the Dr. Kasturirangan Committee in 2019, contributing to medical education policy.
8. In 2023, Sadhna became the second woman officer to achieve the rank of Air Marshal.
9. She is the first woman principal medical officer for both the Western and Training Commands in the Indian Air Force.
10. In 2024, she made history by being appointed as the Director of General Medical Services (Army).
11. She and her husband are recognized as the first air marshal couple in the Indian Air Force.
12. She has trained in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in military medical ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces in Spiez.
13. She has authored two research studies: Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in School Going Children in an Air Force Camp in New Delhi, and Response of Patients and OPD Registration Staff of a Multispecialty Government Hospital to computerisation of OPD Registration.
14. In 2024, she made history by being appointed as the Director General of Medical Services (Army), becoming the seventh woman officer to be promoted to three-star rank in the Indian Armed Forces.
15. Her father, Air Commodore Vinod Saxena, was a specialist in community medicine and a graduate of KGMC, Lucknow, hailing from Prayagraj.
16. She and her husband Air Marshal K P Nair are recognized as the first Air Marshal couple in the Indian Air Force.
17. She is the seventh woman officer to be promoted to three-star rank in the Indian Armed Forces.
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