Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra assumed command of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Western Air Command (WAC) on 1st January 2025, one of the most strategically significant commands of the force. He succeeded Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha, who superannuated on 31 December 2024 after more than 39 years of distinguished service.

Commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on 06 December 1986, Air Marshal Mishra is a seasoned officer with an illustrious career spanning over 38 years. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, he holds specialized training from the Air Force Test Pilots School, Bangalore, Air Command and Staff College, USA, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.

A Fighter Combat Leader and an Experimental Test Pilot, Air Marshal Mishra has logged over 3,000 hours of flying experience. Throughout his career, he has held several key operational, command, and staff roles, including:

• Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron
• Chief Test Pilot at the Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE)
• Air Officer Commanding of two frontline air bases
• Director (Operational Planning and Assessment Group)
• Principal Director (ASR)
• Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhavan)
• Commandant of ASTE
• Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation, and Training), and subsequently Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).

His remarkable service has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal’ and ‘Vishisht Seva Medal.’

Assuming leadership of the Western Air Command, Air Marshal Mishra takes charge of a critical area of operations for the IAF, which oversees the air defense of northern and western India, including the strategically sensitive regions along the international border and the Line of Control.