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{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| name = Rajesh Kumar
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayusena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-Camp|ADC]]
| native_name =
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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 = [[File:India-AirForce-OF-8-collected.svg|30px]] [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| servicenumber = 16770<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| unit =
| commands = [[Strategic Forces Command]]<br>[[Central Air Command, Indian Air Force|Central Air Command]]
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| awards = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br>[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br>[[Vayusena Medal]]
| spouse = Jaya Kumar
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[[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] '''Rajesh Kumar''', [[PVSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]], [[Aide-de-camp|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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Previously he served as AOC-in-C in [[Central Air Command]] and SASO in [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]. He superannuated on 31 August 2021.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Kumar is an alumnus of [[Mayo College]], Ajmer and [[National Defence Academy (India)|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.<ref name="spsmai">{{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}}</ref><ref name="jagran">{{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}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="spsmai"/><ref name="jagran"/> His other appointments include team leader of project monitoring team for [[EL/W-2090#Sale to India|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, Indian Air Force|Eastern Air Command]], Shillong.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="spnews">{{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}}</ref>

== 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|operation parakram]].<ref name="spnews"/><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{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}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Vayu Sena Medal]]
|}

== Personal life ==
Rajesh Kumar is married to Jaya Kumar. They have 2 sons.<ref name="spnews"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}{{Succession box
| title = Commander-in-Chief, [[Strategic Forces Command]]
| years = 1 February 2021 - 31 August 2021
| before = [[Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon]]
| after= [[R. B. Pandit]]
}}{{Succession box
| title = Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, [[Central Air Command]]
| years = 1 January 2019 - 31 January 2021
| before = [[Shyam Bihari Prasad Sinha]]
| after = [[Amit Tiwari (air marshal)|Amit Tiwari]]
}}{{Succession box
| title = Senior Air Staff Officer - [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]
| years = 1 March 2017 - 31 December 2018
| before = [[Raghunath Nambiar]]
| after = [[Sandeep Singh (IAF)|Sandeep Singh]]
}}{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Rajesh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:College of Defence Management alumni]]

Rajesh Kumar (air marshal) - Revision history

Bot: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.