Prayagraj : Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, AVSM, VSM, assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command on June 1, 2026. Commissioned into the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1989, Air Marshal Chaudhry brings with him more than three decades of distinguished service. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare, and National Defence College.
Throughout his illustrious career, Air Marshal Chaudhry has held several key operational, staff, and diplomatic appointments. Notably, he served as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Sweden, with concurrent accreditation to Norway, Finland, and Denmark. He has also undertaken important assignments at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and Air Headquarters, specializing in projects, acquisitions, and human resource management.
Recognized for his strategic vision and leadership, Air Marshal Chaudhry has played a pivotal role in driving transformative initiatives focused on capability enhancement and the induction of advanced technologies within the Indian Air Force. Before assuming his current role, he served as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Southern Air Command.
Air Marshal Chaudhry succeeds Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, PVSM, AVSM, VM, who superannuated on May 31, 2026, after completing 40 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the nation.