Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, poised to be the new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will take over as the new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) on May 1 as the tenure of the incumbent CISC Lt General J.P. Mathew ended on April 30.

He is currently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command in Allahabad.

An experimental test pilot and a qualified flying instructor with more than 3,300 hours of flying experience on a variety of aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF) inventory, Air Marshal Dixit has held several significant field and staff appointments, during his nearly four-decade-long career.

As a commanding officer, Air Marshal Dixit re-equipped one of the squadrons of lAF with the state-of-the-art Mirage aircraft and later commanded a front-line fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premiere fighter training base in the Southern Sector.

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He has served as a directing staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School and held the staff appointment of Principal Director (Air Staff Requirements) at Air Headquarters.

Air Marshal Dixit held the post of Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command and also tenanted the appointments of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) & Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters.

He headed many major projects during his previous tenures, focusing on future technologies and ensured that the IAF achieves modernisation while maintaining a steady focus on self-reliance.

In recognition of his meritorious services, he has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Defence