New Delhi: The government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. He will take charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026.
Dixit, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on October 31.
Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in 1986. He has previously served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Staff Service College in Bangladesh and National Defence College, Dixit has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on aircraft including Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. He is also an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor.
During his nearly four-decade career, he has served in several key operational and staff positions and participated in operations and exercises, including Operation Sated Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
He has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.
