New Delhi:
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College. An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 flying hours on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk, Tejas, IL-78, An-32, Avro, Kiran and HPT-32.
Over a career spanning nearly 40 years, Air Marshal Dixit has played a key role in several major military operations and multinational exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Exercise Cope India and Operation Sindoor. His extensive operational experience has been complemented by a series of important command, instructional and staff assignments.
As Commanding Officer of No. 9 Squadron, he led its transition to the Mirage-2000 platform. He subsequently commanded a frontline fighter air base in the western sector and later headed one of the IAF’s premier fighter training bases in the southern sector. He also served as Directing Staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School and as Principal Director of Air Staff Requirements at Air Headquarters.
Air Marshal Dixit has held several senior leadership positions, including Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters South Western Air Command, and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters.
Before assuming his current appointment, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command before being appointed Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. In the tri-services role, he spearheaded initiatives to enhance jointness and integration among the armed forces, overseeing the formulation of several joint doctrines and operational directives aimed at strengthening India’s defence preparedness across all domains.
In recognition of his exemplary service to the nation, Air Marshal Dixit has been conferred the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
