Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad, VSM, has assumed charge as Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, marking his return to the institution where his military medical career first began more than three decades ago.
The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, has a new Director and Commandant. Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad, VSM, assumed the appointment on the morning of September 1, 2026, taking charge of one of India’s most prestigious military medical institutions. For Honwad, the posting carries personal significance too, since it brings him back to the very college where he began his journey as a military doctor more than 37 years ago.
The Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) formally conveyed best wishes to the Flag Officer on behalf of all ranks of the Armed Forces Medical Services, marking the occasion of his new tenure at AFMC Pune.
Quick Facts: Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad
- New appointment: Director & Commandant, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
- Assumed charge: Morning of September 1, 2026
- Decoration: Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)
- MBBS: 1989, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
- MD (Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine): 1998, AFMC, Pune
- Specialisation: WHO Fellow in Neuro-Anesthesiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru
- Public administration qualification: M.Phil, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi
- Career span: Over 37 years
- Previous post: Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy), Naval Headquarters
- Earlier commands: Commanding Officer, INHS Sanjivani; Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini
A Homecoming to AFMC Pune
Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad’s new posting represents something of a full-circle moment in his career. He completed his MBBS at AFMC Pune back in 1989, meaning his return as Director and Commandant brings him back to lead the very institution that first trained him as a doctor.
He did not stop at his undergraduate degree, either. Honwad went on to complete his MD in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, also at AFMC, in 1998. This continued association with the college across both his early training and his postgraduate specialisation gives him an especially close, long-standing connection to the institution he now leads.
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Building a Specialised Medical Career
Beyond his core qualifications, Honwad pursued further specialisation in a particularly demanding field. He holds a WHO Fellowship in Neuro-Anesthesiology from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, a globally respected centre for neurological and mental health research.
Interestingly, his academic interests extended beyond clinical medicine as well. Honwad also studied public administration at the Indian Institute of Public Administration in New Delhi, where he earned an M.Phil in the subject. This combination of deep clinical specialisation alongside formal administrative training reflects the dual demands of senior military medical leadership, where officers must balance hands-on medical expertise with large-scale institutional management.
Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad’s Career Timeline at a Glance
| Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Completed MBBS, AFMC Pune |
| 1998 | Completed MD in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, AFMC Pune |
| Post-1998 | WHO Fellowship in Neuro-Anesthesiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru |
| Mid-career | M.Phil in Public Administration, IIPA, New Delhi |
| Mid-to-senior career | Commanding Officer, INHS Sanjivani |
| Senior career | Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini |
| Immediately prior to current posting | Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy), Naval HQ |
| September 1, 2026 | Assumed charge as Director & Commandant, AFMC Pune |
Note: Exact dates for the intermediate postings above were not specified in official sources and are presented here in their reported career sequence rather than with fabricated dates.
A Career Spanning Command and Administration
Over a career spanning more than 37 years, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad has held a wide mix of academic, clinical, and administrative appointments within the Armed Forces Medical Services. His experience reflects both frontline medical leadership and higher-level institutional management within the Navy’s healthcare system.
Before taking charge at AFMC Pune, he served as Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy) at Naval Headquarters, a senior administrative role overseeing medical services across the Indian Navy. Earlier in his career, he commanded two major naval hospitals: INHS Sanjivani and INHS Asvini, the latter being one of the oldest and largest hospitals within the Indian Navy’s medical network.
About the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
AFMC Pune stands among India’s most respected medical training institutions, producing generations of doctors who go on to serve across the Army, Navy, and Air Force medical services. As Director and Commandant, Honwad now takes charge of both the institution’s academic direction and its broader administrative functioning.
Given his own educational background at the college, alongside his subsequent specialisation and senior command experience, Honwad brings a rare blend of institutional familiarity and demonstrated leadership to this new role. His appointment continues a long-standing tradition within the Armed Forces Medical Services of promoting senior officers with deep clinical and academic roots back into leadership positions at the very institutions that trained them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Appointment
Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad, VSM, assumed the appointment on the morning of September 1, 2026.
It marks a return to AFMC Pune, the very institution where he completed his MBBS in 1989 and later his MD in 1998, effectively bringing his career full circle.
He previously served as Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy) at Naval Headquarters before taking charge of AFMC Pune.
He completed his MBBS from AFMC Pune in 1989 and his MD in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, also from AFMC, in 1998.
Yes. He is a WHO Fellow in Neuro-Anesthesiology from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
Career Background
He holds an M.Phil in Public Administration from the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.
He has served as Commanding Officer of both INHS Sanjivani and INHS Asvini, two significant hospitals within the Indian Navy’s medical network.
His career spans over 37 years, covering clinical medicine, medical education, healthcare administration, and senior leadership roles.
He holds the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), awarded in recognition of distinguished service.
The Director and Commandant leads both the academic direction and administrative functioning of the Armed Forces Medical College, one of India’s premier institutions for training military doctors across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
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