Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad Takes Charge as Director & Commandant of AFMC Pune
37+ Years of Military Medical Expertise: Senior Naval Medical Officer Returns to His Alma Mater to Lead India’s Premier Armed Forces Medical Institution
Pune, September 1, 2026: Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad, VSM, has assumed charge as the Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, marking a significant leadership transition at one of India’s premier institutions for military medical education, training and healthcare. The appointment was formally assumed on September 1, 2026, according to the Ministry of Defence.
An alumnus of AFMC himself, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad returns to the institution with more than 37 years of distinguished service across clinical medicine, medical education, healthcare administration and senior leadership within the Armed Forces Medical Services. His appointment brings to AFMC an officer with extensive experience in both frontline military healthcare and higher-level medical administration.
From AFMC Student to Its Director and Commandant
The new Director and Commandant has a particularly strong association with AFMC, having completed his MBBS from the institution in 1989. He subsequently returned to AFMC for his postgraduate medical education, completing an MD in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine in 1998. His professional journey therefore comes full circle with his appointment to lead the very institution where he received a significant part of his medical training.
Beyond his medical qualifications, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad also undertook a WHO Fellowship in Neuro-Anesthesiology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. He is also an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, where he was awarded an M.Phil in Public Administration, adding a strong healthcare-management and administrative dimension to his professional profile.
A Career Spanning More Than 37 Years of Military Medicine
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad has held a wide range of prestigious academic, clinical and administrative appointments. His experience includes responsibilities at some of the Indian Navy’s key medical establishments as well as senior-level positions within the Armed Forces Medical Services.
Before taking charge at AFMC, he served as Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy) at Naval Headquarters. He has also served as the Commanding Officer of INHS Sanjivani and INHS Asvini, two prominent naval medical establishments. These appointments provided him with extensive experience in hospital leadership, patient care, medical administration and the management of military healthcare institutions.
Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
As a specialist in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad brings specialised clinical expertise to an institution that trains and develops the next generation of military medical professionals.
Anaesthesiology and critical care occupy a crucial place in modern military medicine, particularly in trauma management, emergency medicine, intensive care and the treatment of critically injured personnel. His experience in this field, combined with his senior administrative background, provides a distinctive blend of clinical and leadership expertise for his new appointment.
Healthcare Simulation and Modern Medical Education
Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad has also been associated with the modernisation of healthcare education through simulation-based medical training. He is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH), USA, and has participated as an international speaker on healthcare simulation at national and international conferences.
Healthcare simulation has become an increasingly important component of modern medical education. It allows medical professionals and students to train for complex clinical situations in controlled environments, helping develop decision-making, teamwork and emergency-response skills without exposing patients to unnecessary risk.
His experience in this area is particularly relevant to AFMC, where medical education and military-specific clinical preparedness come together.
Recognition with Vishisht Seva Medal
In recognition of his distinguished service and commitment to patient care, Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2025. He has also received several commendations during his career, including Chief of Naval Staff Commendations and commendations from the Southern and Western Naval Commands.
The VSM is a significant recognition of distinguished service, and its award reflects the professional contribution made by the officer during his long career in military medicine.
Leading One of India’s Premier Military Medical Institutions
As Director and Commandant, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad will now lead AFMC Pune, an institution that occupies a central position in India’s military medical education ecosystem.
AFMC combines medical education, clinical training, research and military orientation, preparing medical professionals for the unique requirements of the Armed Forces. Its graduates go on to serve across the Army, Navy and Air Force medical establishments and provide healthcare in a wide range of operational and geographical environments.
The Director and Commandant therefore has a responsibility extending beyond academic administration. The position involves shaping medical education, supporting research and innovation, strengthening professional training and ensuring that future military doctors are prepared for the complex healthcare challenges associated with service in uniform.
Military Medicine in an Era of Rapid Transformation
Modern military medicine is evolving rapidly, with growing emphasis on trauma care, critical care, simulation-based training, digital healthcare, medical research, preventive medicine and operational medical preparedness.
Military personnel can operate in extreme environments ranging from high-altitude regions and deserts to maritime and aviation environments. Medical officers therefore require a combination of advanced clinical skills and an understanding of operational conditions.
AFMC plays a crucial role in preparing medical professionals for these requirements. Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad’s combination of clinical expertise, hospital command, healthcare administration and academic experience comes at an important time for the institution.
A Homecoming with a New Responsibility
There is a distinctive element to Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad’s appointment: he is returning to the institution where his own journey as a military doctor began.
From completing his MBBS at AFMC in 1989, to returning for his MD in 1998, and eventually rising through more than 37 years of military medical service to become its Director and Commandant, his career represents a remarkable institutional homecoming.
The appointment therefore carries both professional significance and a strong personal connection with AFMC.
DGAFMS Extends Best Wishes for His Tenure
The Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), on behalf of all ranks of the Armed Forces Medical Services, conveyed best wishes to Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad for a successful tenure as Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune.
His tenure is expected to build on AFMC’s established traditions of excellence in medical education, military healthcare and research while responding to the changing requirements of the Armed Forces.
From an AFMC student in 1989 to the Director and Commandant in 2026 — a remarkable journey comes full circle.
BY DEFENCE JOURNALIST SAHIL | T.I.N. NETWORK
T.I.N. NETWORK NEWS AGENCY — Fast. Factual. Fearless.
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड ने संभाली AFMC पुणे के Director & Commandant की कमान
37 वर्षों से अधिक की सैन्य चिकित्सा सेवा का अनुभव, जिस संस्थान से डॉक्टर बने उसी AFMC की अब संभाली कमान
पुणे, 1 सितंबर 2026: भारतीय नौसेना के वरिष्ठ मेडिकल अधिकारी सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड, VSM ने Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune के नए Director एवं Commandant के रूप में पदभार संभाल लिया है। रक्षा मंत्रालय के अनुसार उन्होंने 1 सितंबर 2026 को इस महत्वपूर्ण जिम्मेदारी को ग्रहण किया।
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड के लिए यह नियुक्ति इसलिए भी खास है क्योंकि वह स्वयं AFMC के alumnus हैं। जिस संस्थान से उन्होंने अपने मेडिकल करियर की शुरुआत की, उसी प्रतिष्ठित सैन्य मेडिकल संस्थान का नेतृत्व करने की जिम्मेदारी अब उन्हें मिली है।
37 वर्षों से अधिक लंबे करियर में उन्होंने clinical medicine, medical education, healthcare administration और Armed Forces Medical Services के वरिष्ठ नेतृत्व से जुड़ी कई महत्वपूर्ण जिम्मेदारियां निभाई हैं।
1989 में AFMC से MBBS, 2026 में उसी संस्थान की कमान
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड ने 1989 में Armed Forces Medical College से MBBS पूरा किया। इसके बाद उन्होंने इसी संस्थान से 1998 में Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine में MD किया।
यानी AFMC के छात्र के रूप में शुरू हुआ सफर अब AFMC के Director और Commandant के रूप में एक ऐतिहासिक मुकाम तक पहुंचा है।
उनकी medical education यहीं तक सीमित नहीं रही। उन्होंने NIMHANS, Bengaluru से Neuro-Anesthesiology में WHO Fellowship भी हासिल की। इसके अलावा वे Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi के alumnus भी हैं, जहां उन्होंने M.Phil in Public Administration की डिग्री हासिल की।
37 वर्षों से अधिक की शानदार सैन्य मेडिकल सेवा
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल होनवाड का करियर तीन दशक से भी अधिक समय तक फैला हुआ है। इस दौरान उन्होंने clinical, academic और administrative क्षेत्रों में कई महत्वपूर्ण जिम्मेदारियां संभालीं।
AFMC की कमान संभालने से पहले वे Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy) at Naval Headquarters के महत्वपूर्ण पद पर कार्यरत थे। इससे पहले वे भारतीय नौसेना के प्रमुख मेडिकल संस्थानों INHS Sanjivani और INHS Asvini के Commanding Officer भी रहे।
इन जिम्मेदारियों ने उन्हें military hospital management, patient care, medical administration और armed forces healthcare system के संचालन का व्यापक अनुभव प्रदान किया।
Anesthesiology और Critical Care Medicine के विशेषज्ञ
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड Anesthesiology और Critical Care Medicine के विशेषज्ञ हैं। Critical care और emergency medicine आधुनिक military healthcare के बेहद महत्वपूर्ण क्षेत्र हैं।
युद्धक्षेत्र या operational environment में गंभीर रूप से घायल सैनिकों की life-saving treatment, trauma management और intensive care के लिए विशेषज्ञ चिकित्सा नेतृत्व की आवश्यकता होती है। इस क्षेत्र का उनका अनुभव AFMC के academic और clinical environment के लिए विशेष महत्व रखता है।
Healthcare Simulation में भी विशेषज्ञता
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल होनवाड आधुनिक medical education में simulation-based training के महत्व पर भी काम कर चुके हैं। वह Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH), USA से Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator हैं और healthcare simulation पर national और international conferences में international speaker के रूप में भी हिस्सा ले चुके हैं।
आज के समय में medical simulation छात्रों और healthcare professionals को emergency और complex clinical situations का controlled environment में अभ्यास कराने का महत्वपूर्ण माध्यम बन चुका है।
AFMC जैसे संस्थान के लिए यह expertise इसलिए महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि यहां medical education और military operational preparedness दोनों को एक साथ विकसित किया जाता है।
2025 में Vishisht Seva Medal से सम्मानित
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड को उनके distinguished service और patient care के प्रति समर्पण के लिए 2025 में Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) से सम्मानित किया गया।
उनके करियर में Chief of Naval Staff Commendations के अलावा Southern और Western Naval Commands से भी commendations शामिल हैं।
ये सम्मान उनके लंबे सैन्य मेडिकल करियर में professional excellence और service contribution को दर्शाते हैं।
अब भारत के प्रमुख Military Medical Institutions में से एक की जिम्मेदारी
Director और Commandant के रूप में अब सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल होनवाड AFMC Pune का नेतृत्व करेंगे। AFMC भारतीय Armed Forces के medical education ecosystem का एक प्रमुख संस्थान है।
यहां medical education, clinical training, research और military orientation को एक साथ जोड़ा जाता है। AFMC से प्रशिक्षित medical officers आगे Army, Navy और Air Force की विभिन्न medical establishments में सेवाएं देते हैं।
इसलिए Director और Commandant की जिम्मेदारी केवल academic administration तक सीमित नहीं है। यह भविष्य के military doctors की training, research, professional development और operational medical preparedness से भी सीधे जुड़ी है।
बदलते युद्धक्षेत्र के लिए बदल रही है Military Medicine
आधुनिक युद्धक्षेत्र तेजी से बदल रहा है। Trauma care, critical care, simulation training, digital healthcare, medical research और operational medical preparedness अब military medicine के महत्वपूर्ण हिस्से बन चुके हैं।
भारतीय सैनिकों को high-altitude क्षेत्रों, रेगिस्तान, समुद्री इलाकों और aviation environment जैसी अलग-अलग परिस्थितियों में तैनात किया जाता है। इसलिए military doctors को केवल clinical medicine ही नहीं, बल्कि operational conditions की भी गहरी समझ होना आवश्यक है।
AFMC इस प्रकार के medical professionals तैयार करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाता है और सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल होनवाड का व्यापक अनुभव इस दिशा में उपयोगी साबित हो सकता है।
जिस कॉलेज से सफर शुरू हुआ, वहीं लौटकर संभाली सबसे बड़ी जिम्मेदारी
सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड की नई नियुक्ति में सबसे खास बात उनका AFMC connection है।
1989 में इसी संस्थान से MBBS…
1998 में इसी संस्थान से MD…
37 वर्षों से अधिक सैन्य चिकित्सा सेवा…
और 2026 में उसी AFMC के Director & Commandant।
यह केवल एक appointment नहीं, बल्कि एक remarkable professional homecoming भी है।
DGAFMS ने दी सफल कार्यकाल की शुभकामनाएं
Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) ने Armed Forces Medical Services के सभी ranks की ओर से सर्जन वाइस एडमिरल मनीष होनवाड को AFMC के Director और Commandant के रूप में उनके सफल कार्यकाल के लिए शुभकामनाएं दी हैं।
उनके नेतृत्व में AFMC से medical education, research, military healthcare और professional training के क्षेत्र में अपनी उत्कृष्ट परंपरा को आगे बढ़ाने की उम्मीद है।
जिस संस्थान से एक सैन्य डॉक्टर के रूप में सफर शुरू हुआ था, अब उसी संस्थान की कमान उनके हाथों में है।
एक छात्र से कमांडेंट तक…
एक डॉक्टर से मेडिकल लीडर तक…
AFMC में एक शानदार वापसी। 🇮🇳⚓
BY DEFENCE JOURNALIST SAHIL | T.I.N. NETWORK
**T.I.N. NETWORK NEWS AGENCY — Fast. Factual. Fearless.**
