Air Marshal

Rajesh Kumar

PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Air Force
Years of service4 June 1982 – 31 August 2021
Rank Air Marshal
Service number16770[1]
Commands heldStrategic Forces Command
Central Air Command
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayusena Medal
Spouse(s)Jaya Kumar

Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is a former officer in the Indian Air Force. He last served as the Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command. He assumed office on 31 January 2021 following the retirement of Air Marshal Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon.[2] Previously he served as AOC-in-C in Central Air Command and SASO in Eastern Air Command. He superannuated on 31 August 2021.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Kumar is an alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He is a graduate from Air Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama. He has also undergone the Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management at Secunderabad.[6][7]

Career

Kumar was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 4 June 1982. He has commanded a fighter aircraft squadron and a front-line air base. He is a category A flying instructor, instrument rating instructor and an air crew examiner.[6][7] His other appointments include team leader of project monitoring team for AWACS project in Israel, director of the Indian Air Force project management team at Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore and Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command, Shillong.[8][9]

Awards and medals

During 36 years of his career, Kumar has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019, and the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry in operation parakram.[9][10][11]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Personal life

Rajesh Kumar is married to Jaya Kumar. They have 2 sons.[9]

References

  1. ^ "411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar to take over as new chief of Strategic Forces Command". 31 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Rapid Turnover in IAF Brass". Bharat Shakti. 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Air Marshal SBP Sinha will retire on December 31". 29 December 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar takes charge as AOC-in-C". 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "IAF's key interface with Industry is new Central Commander". SP's MAI. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar is the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command". 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Raksha Mantri Visits Forward Army & Airforce Bases in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Air Marshal Rajesh taken over as the Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ EAC". SP News Agency. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Awards to IAF Personnel on Republic Day 2019". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
  11. ^ "President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". PIB. 25 January 2021.
Military offices Preceded byNavkaranjit Singh Dhillon Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command 1 February 2021 – 31 August 2021 Succeeded byR. B. Pandit Preceded byShyam Bihari Prasad Sinha Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command 1 January 2019 – 31 January 2021 Succeeded byAmit Tiwari Preceded byRaghunath Nambiar Senior Air Staff Officer - Eastern Air Command 1 March 2017 – 31 December 2018 Succeeded bySandeep Singh
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