Rejig after theft: Air commander in Operation Sindoor named Ram temple CEO

The two other new trustees are Madan Mohan Pandey, former Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh who had a leading role in the Ram Janmabhoomi case in courts; and Dr Nirmala Yadav, a retired college principal from Shikohabad.

In first remarks after being named CEO, Mishra told news agency ANI: “I consider this a great fortune that they chose me from so many candidates. I also consider this the blessing of Lord Ram that after 43 years of service to the nation in the Air Force, he has given me the opportunity to serve Sri Ram Mandir and Sri Ram bhakts.”

Following the registration of an FIR over the alleged theft and arrest of eight men in June, three officials, including Trust general secretary Champat Rai, stepped down from their posts. Two SITs were formed to probe the case. Retired Indian Forest Service officer Krishna Mohan was also appointed interim general secretary.

Mishra, who retired from the IAF in April this year, brings to the table nearly four decades of experience in the Air Force.

He was selected as the CEO from a shortlist of three candidates, picked from 5,585 applications.

Suresh Haware, member of the selection committee, told The Indian Express, “Jeetendra Mishra played a significant role during Operation Sindoor. He will being in discipline and management, which is required at this time. Most importantly, he will restore the trust of Rambhakts. He has managed big operations and is best suited for the role.”

Apart from Haware, a retired nuclear scientist who also headed the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi, the other two members of the three-member selection panel were retired Supreme Court judge Justice Pramod Kohli and retired Lt General Vishnu Kant Chaturvedi.

The Trust’s decision to appoint a CEO marks its biggest administrative restructuring since it was created in 2020. Unlike the existing arrangement, where trustees directly supervised several operational functions, the CEO will oversee day-to-day administration, leaving the Trust to focus on policy decisions.

Giri said in a statement, “Following a discussion on the recommendation of the committee constituted to select the CEO, the Trust selected retired Air Vice Marshal Shri Jeetendra Mishra and appointed him to the post. It is hoped that he will soon take charge of his responsibilities. Mishra has 39 years of experience in various departments of the Indian Air Force and extensive leadership experience…”

Who is retd Air Marshal Mishra

Mishra is from Bhopatpura in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. He was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on December 6, 1986. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and an experimental Test Pilot, and has more than 3,000 hours of flying experience.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Pune, he studied at the Air Force Test Pilots School, Bengaluru; Air Command and Staff College, US; and Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.

He was among seven top military officers awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for their role in Operation Sindoor.

In a service career over 38 years, he held important command and staff appointments. These included Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron, Chief Test Pilot at Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Air Officer Commanding of two frontline air bases and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training). He also served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).