Lucknow: Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry officially took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force's Central Air Command on Monday. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the command.
Career and Background
Air Marshal Chaudhry is a highly experienced fighter pilot who was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1989. With over three decades of distinguished service, he has gained extensive expertise across operational, staff, and diplomatic assignments. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare, and National Defence College.
Key Appointments
Throughout his illustrious career, Air Marshal Chaudhry has held several key appointments. Notably, he served as the defence attache at the Embassy of India in Sweden, with concurrent accreditation to Norway, Finland, and Denmark. He also undertook important staff responsibilities at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and Air Headquarters, where he specialised in projects, acquisitions, and human resource management. His efforts have been pivotal in advancing capability enhancement initiatives and driving the induction of future technologies into the Indian Air Force.
Previous Role and Succession
Prior to his new appointment, Air Marshal Chaudhry served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Southern Air Command. He succeeds Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, PVSM, AVSM, VM, who retired on May 31, 2026, after rendering 40 years of distinguished and dedicated service to the nation. The change of command marks a new chapter in the leadership of the Central Air Command, as the Indian Air Force continues to focus on operational preparedness and technological modernisation.
