{{Short description|Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (India)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Marshal | name = Ashutosh Dixit | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|size=90%|PVSM|AVSM|VM|VSM}} | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.jpg | image_size = 230px | alt = | caption = | office = Chief of Integrated Defence Staff | term_start = 1 May 2025 | term_end = | 1blankname = Chief of Defence Staff | 1namedata = Anil Chauhan | predecessor = Johnson P Mathew | successor = | office1 = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief<br>Central Air Command | term_start1 = 1 September 2024 | term_end1 = 30 April 2025 | 1blankname1 = Chief of Air Staff | 1namedata1 = Vivek Ram Chaudhari<br>Amar Preet Singh | predecessor1 = Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor | successor1 = Balakrishnan Manikantan | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} if dead --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | death_place = | nickname = | birth_place = | allegiance = {{Country|India}} | branch = {{Air force|India}} | service_years = 6 December 1986 – Present | rank = 24px Air Marshal | military_blank1 = Service number | military_data1 = 18558 <ref name="adixit-brf">{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/18558|title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit - BRF|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=2023-05-15}}</ref> | unit = No. 9 Squadron | commands = {{plainlist| * 23px Integrated Defence Staff * 18px Central Air Command * AFS Bidar * No. 9 Squadron }} | battles = Operation Rakshak<br>Kargil War<br>Operation Safed Sagar | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = {{plainlist| * 20px Param Vishisht Seva Medal * 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal * 20px Vayu Sena Medal * 20px Vishisht Seva Medal }} | spouse = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = | other_name = | memorials = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = | alma_mater = }}
Air Marshal '''Ashutosh Dixit''', PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM is an officer of the Indian Air Force, currently serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 2025 |title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumes the appointment of CISC |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2125737 |website=PIB Delhi}}</ref> He was previously the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command,<ref name="PIB2-010924">{{cite press release |title=AIR MARSHAL ASHUTOSH DIXIT TAKES OVER AS AOC-IN-C CENTRAL AIR COMMAND |date=2024-09-01 |publisher=PIB |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2050577}}</ref> and earlier served as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff<ref name="pib-150523">{{cite press release |title=AIR MARSHAL ASHUTOSH DIXIT TAKES OVER AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF |date=2023-05-15 |publisher=PIB |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1924156}}</ref> and the Senior Air Staff Officer, South Western Air Command.<ref name="ie-010523" />
== Early life and education == He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh and National Defence College, New Delhi.<ref name="ndtv-150523">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-takes-over-as-deputy-chief-of-air-staff-4036452|title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes Over As Deputy Chief Of Air Staff|publisher=NDTV|date=2023-05-15}}</ref>
==Military Career== Dixit was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. In a career spanning more than 37 years, he has held several field and staff appointments. He is an experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor with more than 3300 hours of flying experience on a variety of aircraft in the IAF inventory<ref name="fe-150523">{{cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-takes-over-as-the-deputy-chief-of-the-air-staff-3088805/ |publisher=Financial Express}}</ref> and has participated in Operation Rakshak & Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War. As a Commanding Officer, he re-equipped one of the Squadrons of Indian Air Force with the 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. He has flying experience primarily on Mirage 2000. He served as the Commanding officer of No. 9 Squadron and the Flying Training School in Bengaluru.<ref name="ndtv-150523" /> He was also a Directing Staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School.
As Air Commodore, he served as the Principal Director for Air Staff Requirements at the Air Headquarter, New Delhi and later served as the Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Bidar, Karnataka.<ref name="pib-150523" /><ref name="tp-040523">{{cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed as new Deputy Chief of Air Staff |url=https://theprint.in/india/air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-appointed-as-new-deputy-chief-of-air-staff/1555000/ |publisher=The Print}}</ref> As Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarter, New Delhi. Later, he served as the Air Defence Commander of the Southern Air Command, Trivandrum and Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi.<ref name="out-150523">{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/air-marshal-dixit-takes-over-as-deputy-chief-of-air-staff-1.8562843|title= Air Marshal Dixit takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff |publisher=Mathrubhumi|date=2023-05-16}}</ref>
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal in October 2021, he served as the Senior Air Staff Officer, South Western Air Command till 14 May 2023.<ref name="ie-010523">{{cite tweet|number=1649410618020052996|title=Yoga workshop closing ceremony was presided over by Air Mshl Ashutosh Dixit AVSM VM VSM, SASO SWAC|user=SWAC_IAF|date=2023-04-21}}</ref> On 15 May 2023, he took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari. As the Deputy Chief of Air Staff in Air Headquarters, Dixit played a critical role in pushing forward the Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative of the defence forces. He has headed several projects with the adaption of future technologies and worked towards ensuring that the IAF achieves modernization while maintaining a steady focus on 'Aatmanirbharta Self Reliance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-02 |title=Air Marshal Dixit takes over as Central Air Command chief |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/air-marshal-dixit-assumes-command-of-central-air-command/articleshow/112977369.cms |access-date=2024-09-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> A number of indigenous aircraft projects including LCA Mark-1A, Mark-2 and AMCA have seen significant forward movement during his tenure as Deputy Chief.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to take over as new Central Air Commander |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-to-take-over-as-new-central-air-commander20240831191910/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>
On 1 September 2024, Air Marshal Dixit took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor who superannuated from service on 31 August 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-02 |title=Air Marshal Dixit AOC-in-C, Central Air Command |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/air-marshal-dixit-aoc-in-c-assumes-command-of-central-air-command/articleshow/112977918.cms |access-date=2025-10-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He relinquished the command of Central Air Command on 30 April 2025.
On 1 May 2025, Ashutosh Dixit took over as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff succeeding Lieutenant General Johnson P Mathew, who superannuated on 30 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Negi |first=Manjeet |date=2025-05-01 |title=Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-marshal-ashutosh-dixit-takes-charge-as-chief-of-integrated-defence-staff-2718022-2025-05-01 |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
== Awards and decorations == Dixit was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026,<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Jan 2026 |title=77th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous & military decorations to 301 personnel. |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218540®=3&lang=1 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |website=Press Information Bureau}}</ref> the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023,<ref name="avsm">{{cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=President approves 412 Gallantry awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893742 |publisher=PIB}}</ref> the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006 <ref name="vm">{{cite web |date=2006-01-26 |title=Presidential Awards to IAF personnel on the eve of Republic Day-2006 |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=15146 |publisher=PIB}}</ref> and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011<ref name="vsm">{{cite web |date=2011-01-25 |title=440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=24335 |publisher=PIB}}</ref> for his service.
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | colspan="4" |frameless|105x105px {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |- |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |105x105px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | style="text-align:center;" | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | colspan="2" |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Vayu Sena Medal |- |Vishisht Seva Medal |Operation Vijay Star |Operation Vijay Medal |Operation Parakram Medal |- |Sainya Seva Medal |High Altitude Medal |Videsh Seva Medal |75th Anniversary of Independence Medal |- |50th Anniversary of Independence Medal |30 Years Long Service Medal |20 Years Long Service Medal |9 Years Long Service Medal |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-mil}}{{Succession box | title = Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff | years = 1 May 2025 – Present | before = Johnson P Mathew | after = ''Incumbent'' }}{{Succession box | title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief<br>Central Air Command | years = 1 September 2024 – 30 April 2025 | before = Ravi Gopal Krishana Kapoor | after = Balakrishnan Manikantan }} {{Succession box | title = Deputy Chief of the Air Staff | years = 15 May 2023 – 31 August 2024 | before = Narmdeshwar Tiwari | after = Tejinder Singh }} {{Succession box | title = Senior Air Staff Officer<br>South Western Air Command | years = 1 October 2022 – 14 May 2023 | before = Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar | after = Manish Khanna }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixit, Ashutosh}} Category:Living people Category:Indian Air Force air marshals Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Deputy chiefs of Air Staff (India)