Nagesh Kapoor
Nagesh Kapoor | |
|---|---|
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command | |
| Assumed office 1 May 2025 | |
| Chief of Air Staff | Amar Preet Singh |
| Preceded by | Narmdeshwar Tiwari |
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command | |
| In office 1 May 2024 – 30 April 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Radhakrishnan Radhish |
| Succeeded by | Tejinder Singh |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch/service | Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 6 December 1986 – Present |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Unit | No. 35 Squadron |
| Commands |
|
| Service number | 18557 [1] |
| Awards | |
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, SYSM, PVSM, AVSM, VM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command.[2] He previously served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command,[3] prior to that he was Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel.[4] He earlier served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command.[5]
Early life and education
The Air officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi.[6]
Military career
He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy.[7] In a career spanning over three decades, he has more than 3400 hours of flying experience across various fighter jets and has held numerous field & instructional appointments. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot, qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader who has flown a variety of combat and trainer aircraft and has flown all variants of MiG-21 and the MiG-29. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Central Sector, Station Commander of a flying base in the Western Sector and Air Officer Commanding of a premier air base. He has done instructional tenures as Chief Instructor (Flying) at Air Force Academy and Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. During his tenure at Air Force Academy, the Air Officer was instrumental in the induction and operationalisation of PC-7 MK Il aircraft in the IAF. He has also undertaken a diplomatic assignment as Defence Attaché, Pakistan.[8]
As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Ops, Strategy) at the Air headquarters, New Delhi, as the Air Officer Commanding of 2 Air Defence Control Centre at Gandhinagar and as the Air Officer Commanding of the Composite Battle Response and Analysis Group.[9]
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed as the Senior Air Staff Officer of the Central Air Command at Prayagraj. A year later on 1 September 2023, he took over as the Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel.[5] On 1 May 2024, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command.[10] On 1 May 2025, he took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari who moved to the Air Headquarters as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[11]
Awards and decorations
During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal on Independence Day 2025,[12] the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on Republic Day 2025,[13] the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 [14] and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 for his service.[15]
Dates of ranks
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Officer | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1986[9] | |
| Flying Officer | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1987[9] | |
| Flight Lieutenant | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1991[9] | |
| Squadron Leader | Indian Air Force | 6 December 1997[9] | |
| Wing Commander | Indian Air Force | 5 May 2003[9] | |
| Group Captain | Indian Air Force | 1 March 2009[9] | |
| Air Commodore | Indian Air Force | 17 June 2013[9] | |
| Air Vice Marshal | Indian Air Force | 11 June 2019[9] | |
| Air Marshal | Indian Air Force | 22 August 2022 (AOC-in-C from 1 May 2024)[9] |
References
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor- BRF". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor takes charge as AOC-in-C of SW Air Command". Business Standard. 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Takes Over as AOC-in-C Training Command". Press Information Bureau. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor takes over as Air Officer–in–Charge Personnel". www.spsmai.com. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ a b "AIR MARSHAL NAGESH KAPOOR TAKES OVER AS AIR OFFICER-IN-CHARGE PERSONNEL". PIB. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Assumes Command of IAF's Training Command". SSBCrack. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Press Release:Press Information Bureau". pib. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ India, The Hans (2 May 2024). "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumes office". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Service Record for Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor 18557 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor takes over as AOC–in–C Training Command". www.sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ PTI (1 May 2025). "Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor takes charge as AOC-in-C of South Western Air Command". ThePrint. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day". PIB Delhi. 14 August 2025.
- ^ "President approves Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces personnel, including 11 posthumous & 305 defence decorations on the eve of Republic Day 2025". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ "President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day" (Press release). PIB. 25 January 2022.
- ^ "AOC-in-C-SWAC". Indian Air Force. 1 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023.