Retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra Appointed as New CEO of Ayodhya Trust

Retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra Appointed as New CEO of Ayodhya Trust Retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust. Currently a retired Air Force officer, Mishra previously served as the ‘Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief’ (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command. He will serve as the first permanent CEO of the Ram Temple. Moving forward, he will oversee the administrative, financial, and legal management related to the temple. The Trust received over 5,500 applications for the CEO post, from which a three-member search committee shortlisted three candidates and ultimately selected Jitendra Mishra.

The Janmabhoomi Trust Committee took the decision accordingly. After reviewing 5,585 applications, the committee announced the appointment of Jitendra Mishra—who served in the Air Force for 39 years—as the CEO of the Temple Trust.

Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra (SYSM, AVSM, VSM) completed his service tenure and retired from the Indian Air Force on April 30, 2026. Mishra served in the fighter stream under service number 18575 F(P). He joined the Air Force on December 6, 1986.

Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra is a senior retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Air Force’s highly critical ‘Western Air Command’ from January 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. He hails from Bhopatpura village under the Bhatpar Rani police station limits in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district.

He has been decorated with the ‘Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal’ (SYSM), ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal’ (AVSM), and ‘Vishisht Seva Medal’ (VSM). Recently, he spoke in detail about his role as the Western Air Command Chief during ‘Operation Sindoor’ (May 2025). He mentioned granting permission to target a Pakistani AWACS aircraft located 314 kilometers away using the S-400 system.

Additionally, he served as a Senior Test Flying Instructor at the Air Force Test Pilots School, Commanding Officer of a MiG-21 squadron, Chief Test Pilot at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Director of Aircraft Upgrades (Projects), and Chief Operations Officer at a Su-30 MKI operating airbase. He also served as the Director of the Operational Planning and Assessment Group at Air Headquarters.

As the Ram Mandir CEO, Jitendra Mishra will oversee the daily administration, financial management, security arrangements, devotee amenities, and legal matters of the temple. The Trust clarified that the CEO will operate under its direct supervision. Preserving the faith of the devotees will be his primary responsibility. Air Marshal Mishra’s military discipline and administrative expertise are expected to play a key role in strengthening the Trust’s operations.