Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the administration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The appointment, approved at the Trust’s meeting in Ayodhya on September 2, 2026, marks a significant shift towards a more professional and structured administrative setup for the temple. Mishra takes charge after a distinguished career of nearly four decades in the Indian Air Force.
A Fighter Pilot With Nearly Four Decades of Service
Mishra was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on December 6, 1986. Over a career spanning more than 38 years, he accumulated over 3,000 hours of flying experience and flew more than 18 types of fighter aircraft, transport aircraft and helicopters. He served as a fighter pilot, Fighter Combat Leader and experimental test pilot, besides holding several important operational, instructional and administrative positions.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Pune, the Air Force Test Pilots School in Bengaluru, the Air Command and Staff College in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. His extensive training and experience prepared him for some of the IAF’s most demanding operational and leadership assignments.
Role During the Kargil War
Mishra was also associated with an important technological milestone during the Kargil War. As a Squadron Leader, he was part of the team that helped operationalise laser-guided bombs on Mirage 2000 aircraft. These weapons were subsequently used against important targets during Operation Safed Sagar, including Tiger Hill and Muntho Dhalo.
His career subsequently included command and test-pilot responsibilities. He commanded a fighter squadron, served as Chief Test Pilot at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment and held senior positions at Air Headquarters. In 2010, he also led the Indian Air Force contingent at the multinational Garuda IV air exercise in France.
From Strategic Planning to Senior Command
As he rose through the ranks, Mishra took on increasingly important responsibilities involving operational planning, defence requirements, testing and military coordination. He served as Director of the Operational Planning and Assessment Group and later as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects). He also served as Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment and held senior positions within the Integrated Defence Staff.
Mishra eventually became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the IAF’s Western Air Command, one of the country’s key operational commands. He assumed the position in January 2025 and subsequently played a prominent role during Operation Sindoor. He retired from the Indian Air Force in April 2026.
Decorated for Distinguished Military Service
Mishra’s military career has been recognised with several prestigious honours. These include the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). In 2025, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for distinguished service during Operation Sindoor. The decoration is among India’s highest wartime military honours.
His experience during Operation Sindoor has also brought him into public focus. As Western Air Command chief, he was among the senior commanders involved in the operation. In subsequent interactions, Mishra spoke about aspects of the air campaign while maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive operational information.
Roots in Uttar Pradesh
Despite his long association with the armed forces, Mishra has strong roots in Uttar Pradesh. He belongs to Bhopatpura in Deoria district, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, relatively close to Ayodhya. He comes from a middle-class family, and his father was a lecturer. His connection with the state adds another dimension to his appointment to the Ram Temple Trust.
Why Was Mishra Chosen as the First CEO?
Mishra’s appointment comes as the Ram Temple Trust moves towards strengthening its administrative systems, financial oversight and day-to-day functioning. The selection followed a formal search process. A three-member committee headed by retired Justice Pramod Kohli was constituted in July 2026, and the Trust received 5,585 applications for the position. After scrutiny and interviews, three candidates were shortlisted before Mishra was selected.
As CEO, Mishra is expected to bring his experience of large-scale administration, strategic planning, operational coordination and institutional discipline to the Trust. His responsibilities will involve overseeing the Trust’s expanding administrative operations and coordinating various aspects of the temple’s functioning and facilities for devotees. His appointment comes at a time when the Trust is seeking greater institutionalisation of its administrative and financial processes.
From Serving the Nation to Serving Devotees
For Mishra, the new responsibility represents a very different setting but, in his own words, another form of service. Following his appointment, he described the transition from serving in the Air Force to serving at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi as an opportunity to serve Lord Ram and his devotees. He said he considered his selection a matter of divine will and expressed his intention to work with the Trust and its team to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to him.
From a fighter pilot commissioned in 1986 to the commander of the IAF’s Western Air Command and a decorated veteran of Operation Sindoor, Jeetendra Mishra now enters a new chapter of public service as the first CEO of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. His appointment brings a military leader with decades of experience in command, planning and institutional management into the administration of one of India’s most significant religious institutions.