George Thomas (air marshal)

Air Marshal
George Thomas
AVSM VM
Official Portrait, 2026
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Western Air Command
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 May 2026
Chief of Air StaffAmar Preet Singh
Preceded byJeetendra Mishra
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Air Force
Years of service
14 June 1989 - Present
Rank Air Marshal
UnitNo. 20 Squadron
Commands
Service Number20118[1]
Awards

Air Marshal George Thomas, AVSM, VSM is a serving air officer of the Indian Air Force. He is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command.[2] He previously served as the Director General Air Operations,[3] and prior to that he was Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command.[4] He is also the Commodore Commandant of No. 20 Squadron.[5]

Early life and education

The Air officer is an alumnus of the 74th Course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla[6] and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of National Defence College, New Delhi.[7]

Military career

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 14 June 1989 from the Air Force Academy.[8] In a career spanning over three decades, he has over 9000 hours of flying experience including more than 3,600 hours as an instructor across various fighter jets on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. He has held various command, staff & instructional appointments. The Air Marshal's operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of No. 20 Squadron.[9] He has served as Chief Test Pilot at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment[10] and was Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Israel.[11]

As an Air Commodore, he served as Air Assistant to the Chief of Air Satff,[12] as the Air Officer Commanding of 14 Wing, Chabua, Assam[13] and as Air Cmde (Opl Plg Assesstment and Strategy) at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi.[8] As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Projects[14] and as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans.[15]

After getting promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 1 October 2024,[16] he assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command.[4] After his stint as SASO, Central Air Command, on 1 June 2025 he assumed the appointment of the Director General Air Operations at the Air Headquarters.[3] On 1 May 2026, Air Marshal George Thomas took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra who superannuated on 30 April 2026.[2]

Awards and decorations

During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019[1] and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2010.[17] He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff.

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal
Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Date of ranks

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Pilot Officer Indian Air Force 14 June 1989[8]
Flying Officer Indian Air Force 14 June 1990[8]
Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force 14 June 1994[8]
Squadron Leader Indian Air Force 14 June 1996[8]
Wing Commander Indian Air Force 16 December 2004[8]
Group Captain Indian Air Force 21 January 2011[8]
Air Commodore Indian Air Force 1 March 2016[8]
Air Vice Marshal Indian Air Force 1 June 2022[8]
Air Marshal Indian Air Force 1 October 2024 (AOC-in-C from 1 May 2026)[16]

References

–

  1. 1 2 "The President has approved awards of 411 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 70th Republic Day Celebrations". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Air Marshal George Thomas Visits Frontline Air Base, Inaugurates Tri-Service UAS School". 6 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Air Marshal George Thomas Appointed as New Director General of Air Operations in IAF". 1 June 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Senior Air Staff Officer Appointments at Central Air Command". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Commodore Commandant Appointments at No. 20 Squadron". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "74 NDA Course". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "59 NDC Course". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Service Record for Air Marshal George Thomas 20118 F(P)". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Commanding Officers of No. 20 Squadron, Indian Air Force". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Chief Test Pilot Appointments at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Defence Attache Appointments at Embassy of India, Israel". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Air Assistant to Chief of Air Staff Appointments". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "List of Air Officer Commanding of 14 Wing, Indian Air Force". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "List of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Projects at Air HQ". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "List of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans at Air HQ". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 13 December 2025. p. 22.
  17. ↑ "Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations 2010". pib.gov.in. 25 January 2010.
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