Rajesh Kumar (air marshal)

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Air Marshal

| name = Rajesh Kumar

| honorific_suffix = PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC

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| image = File:Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar as AOC-in-C of CAC.jpg

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| allegiance = {{Country|India}}

| branch = {{Air force|India}}

| serviceyears = 4 June 1982 – 31 August 2021

| rank = 30px Air Marshal

| servicenumber = 16770{{cite web|title=411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187777|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2019-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161539/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187777|archive-date=2019-03-27|url-status=live}}

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| commands = Strategic Forces Command
Central Air Command

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| awards = Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vayusena Medal

| spouse = Jaya Kumar

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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.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-marshal-rajesh-kumar-to-take-over-as-new-chief-of-strategic-forces-command-1764373-2021-01-31|title=Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar to take over as new chief of Strategic Forces Command|date=31 January 2021}} Previously he served as AOC-in-C in Central Air Command and SASO in Eastern Air Command. He superannuated on 31 August 2021.{{cite web|url=https://bharatshakti.in/air-force-change-of-guard-at-critical-posts/|title=Rapid Turnover in IAF Brass|publisher=Bharat Shakti|date=2021-05-29}}{{cite news|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/allahabad/story-air-marshal-sbp-sinha-will-retire-on-december-31-2336234.html|title=Air Marshal SBP Sinha will retire on December 31|date=2018-12-29|access-date=2019-02-20}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-lucknow/20190102/281603831594819|title=Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar takes charge as AOC-in-C|date=2019-01-02|access-date=2019-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111425/https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-lucknow/20190102/281603831594819|archive-date=2019-03-06|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.spsmai.com/appointments/?id=323&q=IAF-s-key-interface-with-Industry-is-new-Central-Commander|title=IAF's key interface with Industry is new Central Commander|work=SP's MAI|access-date=2019-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306052007/http://www.spsmai.com/appointments/?id=323&q=IAF-s-key-interface-with-Industry-is-new-Central-Commander|archive-date=2019-03-06|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-air-marshal-rajesh-kumar-is-the-new-commanding-in-chief-of-air-force-central-command-18809207.html|title=Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar is the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command|date=2019-01-01|accessdate=2019-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122195615/https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-air-marshal-rajesh-kumar-is-the-new-commanding-in-chief-of-air-force-central-command-18809207.html|archive-date=2019-01-22|url-status=live}}

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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=173251|title=Raksha Mantri Visits Forward Army & Airforce Bases in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh|date=2017-11-05|accessdate=2019-03-03|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}{{cite web|url=http://spnewsagency.com/air-marshal-rajesh-taken-over-as-the-senior-air-staff-officer-at-hq-eac/|title=Air Marshal Rajesh taken over as the Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ EAC|work=SP News Agency|access-date=2019-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101143330/http://spnewsagency.com/air-marshal-rajesh-taken-over-as-the-senior-air-staff-officer-at-hq-eac/|archive-date=2018-01-01|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web|title=Distinguished Service and Gallantry Awards to IAF Personnel on Republic Day 2019|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1561462|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|website=pib.nic.in}}{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692363|title= President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day|publisher=PIB|date=25 January 2021}}

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|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

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style="text-align:center;"|Param Vishisht Seva Medal

|style="text-align:center;"|Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

|style="text-align:center;"|Vayu Sena Medal