New Delhi: Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann, a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM), assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force on July 1, 2026. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Southern Air Command headquarters on the occasion.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 16, 1989, Air Marshal Mann is a highly accomplished fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours on a wide range of combat aircraft, including the Apache, MiG-21, Jaguar, MiG-29, Su-30, and Rafale. He is also a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor.
An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and the Higher Air Command Course, Air Marshal Mann also holds a postgraduate qualification from the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.
During his distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, he has commanded a fighter squadron and served as the Air Officer Commanding of a major fighter base. He has held several key operational and staff appointments, including Air Defence Commander and Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration at a command headquarters.
At Air Headquarters, he served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations-Offensive) and Director General (Weapon Systems), contributing significantly to operational planning and capability enhancement. Before taking over his present assignment, he was serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Western Air Command, where he played a key role in strengthening joint operational capabilities across multiple domains.
Air Marshal Mann succeeds Air Marshal Manish Khanna, a recipient of the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM), who retired from service on June 30, 2026, after an illustrious career spanning nearly 40 years.
The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the Southern Air Command, one of the Indian Air Force’s key operational commands responsible for safeguarding the country’s southern airspace and maritime interests.
