Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad Takes Over as AFMC Pune Director and Commandant

Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad, VSM, has taken charge as Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, with effect from September 1, 2026, returning to the institution where he began his career as a military doctor more than three decades ago. The senior officer brings over 37 years of experience in clinical medicine, medical education, healthcare administration and leadership within the Armed Forces Medical Services.

An alumnus of AFMC Pune, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad completed his MBBS from the college in 1989. He later earned his MD in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine from the same institution in 1998, building on the medical training that first brought him into the Armed Forces’ healthcare system.

He went on to further specialisation as a WHO Fellow in Neuro-Anesthesiology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. Alongside his medical qualifications, he also studied public administration at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, where he obtained an M.Phil in Public Administration.

Over the course of a career spanning more than 37 years, he has held a range of academic, clinical and administrative appointments across the Armed Forces Medical Services. His experience has covered both frontline medical leadership and higher-level management responsibilities within the Navy’s healthcare system.

Before assuming charge of AFMC Pune, he served as Additional Director General Medical Services (Navy) at Naval Headquarters. His earlier appointments included command of INHS Sanjivani and INHS Asvini, two major medical establishments of the Indian Navy.

In addition to his operational and administrative roles, Surgeon Vice Admiral Honwad has been closely associated with healthcare simulation and medical education. He is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH), USA, and has spoken as an international expert on healthcare simulation at several national and international conferences.

His service has been recognised through several military honours and commendations. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2025 in recognition of his dedication to patient care and service.

He has also received the Chief of the Naval Staff Commendation twice, in 2006 and 2013. In addition, he was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South) Commendation in 2007 and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (West) Commendation in 2011.

As Director and Commandant, he will now lead one of India’s premier medical institutions, which is responsible for training doctors and healthcare professionals for the Armed Forces Medical Services. 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 at AFMC Pune.