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Nagesh Kapoor (IAF) Height, Age, Family, Biography

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Height: 5' 9"

Profession: Indian Air Force (IA) Officer

Nationality: Indian

Bio/Wiki
Profession	Vice Chief of Air Staff in Indian Air Force (IAF)
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)	5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight (approx.)	65 Kg (143 lbs)
Body Measurements (approx.)	- Chest: 42 inches - Waist: 32 inches - Biceps: 12 inches
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Indian Air Force (IAF)
Service No & Branch	18557 F(P)
Stream	Fighters
Commissioning Date	6 December 1986
Course	138
Appointments, Postings & Other Service Particulars	• 11 January 2005 – 11 June 2006 – Wing Commander at Air Defence Flight, Bakshi-Ka-Talab, as Commanding Officer. • 12 June 2006 – 24 June 2007 – Wing Commander at No. 35 Squadron as Commanding Officer. • 1 April 2009 – 9 May 2010 – Group Captain at 27 Wing, Bhuj, as Station Commander. • 9 July 2012 – 31 March 2013 – Group Captain at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, as Chief Instructor (Flying). • 1 April 2013 – 31 December 2014 – Air Commodore at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, as Chief Instructor (Flying). • 14 December 2015 – 3 December 2017 – Air Commodore at 28 Wing, Hindan (Ghaziabad), as Air Officer Commanding. • 8 January 2018 – 5 May 2019 – Air Commodore at Headquarters Western Air Command, New Delhi, as Air-I. • Air Vice Marshal at 2 Air Defence Control Centre, Gandhinagar, as Air Officer Commanding. • Air Vice Marshal at Composite Battle Response and Analysis Group, Gwalior, as Air Officer Commanding. • Air Vice Marshal at Directorate of Operations Strategy, Air Headquarters, New Delhi, as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations Strategy). • From 25 July 2016 – Commodore Commandant at Air Defence Flight. • Until 31 August 2023 – Air Marshal at Headquarters Central Air Command, Allahabad, as Senior Air Staff Officer. • 1 September 2023 – 30 Apr 2024 – Air Marshal at Air Headquarters, New Delhi, as Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel. • 1 May 2024 – 30 Apr 2025 – Air Marshal at Training Command, Bengaluru, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. • 1 May 2025 –31 December 2025 – Air Marshal at South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. • 1 January 2026 – Present – Air Marshal at Air Headquarters, New Delhi, as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Ranks	• 6 December 1986 – Pilot Officer • 6 December 1987 – Flying Officer • 6 December 1991 – Flight Lieutenant • 6 December 1997 – Squadron Leader • 5 May 2003 – Wing Commander • 1 March 2009 – Group Captain • 17 June 2013 – Air Commodore • 11 June 2019 – Air Vice Marshal • 22 August 2022 – Air Marshal
Awards/Medals	• Vayu Sena Medal (2008) • Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2022) • Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2025) • Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (2025)
Personal Life
Nationality	Indian

Some Lesser Known Facts About Nagesh Kapoor

Nagesh Kapoor graduated from the National Defence Academy in December 1985 after completing pre-commission military training.

He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 06 December 1986 in the fighter stream of the Flying Branch.

As a young officer, he qualified as a fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor, and Fighter Combat Leader.

He flew all variants of MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft during operational and instructional flying assignments.

By mid-career, he had logged over 2,700 hours of accident-free flying across multiple fighter and trainer aircraft.
Nagesh Kapoor, during his early years as an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer

He served as Flight Commander of a MiG-29 squadron during early operational command appointments.

During this tenure, he was deployed for six months at a forward air base during Operation Parakram.

He later served as Senior Flight Safety and Inspection Officer at Air Force Station Adampur.

During this period, the station recorded zero accidents or incidents attributed to human error. He subsequently assumed command as Commanding Officer of a MiG-21 squadron.
Nagesh Kapoor during his career

Under his command, the squadron recorded significantly higher annual flying hours compared to the previous year.

For nearly one year, all squadron pilots remained fully operational with current instrument flying ratings. The squadron maintained a zero-accident flying record throughout his command tenure.

His squadron competed against Mirage and Jaguar units during the Command Gunnery Meet and won team events.

He led the squadron through inspections, detachments, and a merger with another MiG-21 unit without operational degradation.

He completed the Defence Services Staff College course in 2003, topping the course during his academic tenure.

He later attended the National Defence College as part of advanced professional military education. His instructional appointments included Chief Instructor Flying at the Air Force Academy and Directing Staff at DSSC Wellington.

During his tenure at the Air Force Academy, he oversaw the induction and operationalisation of the PC-7 Mk II aircraft.

He served on a diplomatic assignment as Defence Attaché to Pakistan during a staff posting abroad.

His senior staff roles included Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations Strategy and Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel at Air Headquarters.

He later served as Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command Headquarters.

He was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command, followed by South Western Air Command headquartered at Gandhinagar.

As AOC-in-C South Western Air Command, he led Indian Air Force operations during Operation Sindoor between 6 May and 10 May.

For leadership during Operation Sindoor, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal by the President of India.

On 1 January 2026, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Nagesh Kapoor after becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff

He succeeded Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who superannuated after completing over forty years of Indian Air Force service.
Nagesh Kapoor during the guard of honour

On the same date, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas also took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command on 1 January 2026.