New Delhi, Jul 1 (NVI): Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Wednesday assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on June 30 after four decades of service.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College. He has logged more than 3,500 flying hours on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk, Tejas, An-32 and IL-78.
An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, he has participated in several key operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Cope India and Operation Sindoor.
During his nearly four-decade-long career, Air Marshal Dixit has held several operational and staff appointments. He commanded No. 9 Squadron during its re-equipment with Mirage-2000 aircraft and later headed a frontline fighter air base in the western sector and a premier fighter training base in the southern sector.
He also served as Air Defence Commander of the Southern Air Command, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects and Plans), Senior Air Staff Officer at the South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters.
Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Dixit served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command and later as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee.
For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.(NVI)
