Meet Air Marshal veteran Jeetendra Mishra: The first-ever CEO of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust |
From air marshall to now Ayodhya’s Ram Temple trust marshal, this is the journey of Jeetendra Mishra. When he started his career in the cockpit of fighter aircraft, he didn’t think of serving as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Air Marshal (Retd) is expected to bring nearly four decades of military experience to the administration of the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya. For Mishra, 2026 marks not simply the beginning of a new assignment, but the start of a second chapter life.A humble beginningMishra’s story has its roots in Bhopatpura village in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district. He joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on December 6, 1986. He eventually spent more than 38 years in the service.Over the years, he worked through some of the Air Force’s most difficult and demanding assignments and trained as a Fighter Combat Leader and Experimental Test Pilot. He has more than 3,000 hours of flying experience. His career also included flying a wide range of aircraft, while his professional education took him from the National Defence Academy in Pune to the Air Force Test Pilots School in Bengaluru.Higher education Mishra attended the Air Command and Staff College in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He built his career around flying fighter jets. He commanded a fighter squadron and two frontline air bases and later became Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).Later, he took charge of the Western Air Command and served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). Clearly a decorated career.On January 1, 2025, Mishra assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command. He retired from the Air Force on April 30, 2026.Decorative career
Jeetendra Mishra (Instagram)
His service earned him several distinctions, including the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. In 2025, the President also approved the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, recognising his service.Role in Operation SindoorDuring Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra was serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command, one of the Indian Air Force’s key operational commands. He played a senior leadership role in overseeing air operations.A new role as the CEOHe is now appointed as the first full-time CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Mishra will be responsible for helping coordinate the organisation’s expanding administrative responsibilities. His appointment effectively creates a dedicated executive position at the Trust’s top administrative level.As per reports, the Trust received 5,585 applications for the CEO position. After screening and interviews, the field was progressively narrowed, with 16 candidates and he was selected.His first words after arriving in Ayodhya, calls it “Shri Ram’s blessings”
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
“Isse main Shri Ram ka aashirwaad manta hoon” (I consider it Shri Ram’s blessing). After arriving in Ayodhya, he said his immediate priority was to understand the organisation and its functioning before announcing his plans.After spending decades in an institution where preparation, procedure and understanding a situation before acting are fundamental, Mishra is entering an environment that is vastly different from an airbase or military command headquarters.From air marshal to temple CEOFor almost four decades, Mishra’s professional life revolved around fighter jets. Now, after hanging up his uniform, he has taken on a role rooted in the day-to-day administration of one of India’s most significant places of worship.For a man whose professional life was shaped by command decisions, Ayodhya will offer a new experience.
