CMS Alumnus Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed as 29th Chief of the Air Staff
City Montessori School (CMS) congratulates its distinguished alumnus, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, on taking charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff and Head of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. Air Chief Marshal Dixit studied at CMS Anand Nagar Campus starting in Class VII in 1976, moved to CMS Rajendra Nagar Campus in 1978, and completed his schooling in 1980.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 6 December 1986, Air Chief Marshal Dixit brings nearly four decades of service. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh, and National Defence College, New Delhi, he is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with over 3,500 flying hours across aircraft like the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and Tejas. His operational service includes Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor. He has been decorated with the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023), and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
Reflecting on his school foundation, Air Chief Marshal Dixit shares, “CMS gave me much more than an academic foundation. It showed me that education is about character as well as knowledge.” He credits the school’s motto, ‘Jai Jagat’, and its focus on discipline with shaping his choice of a career in uniform. He adds that throughout his service, he relied on core values: “integrity when no one is watching, respect for every individual, and the courage to stand by what is right.” Reminiscing on class tests, he notes that early setbacks taught him that “failure is only a step towards improvement.”
Former Indian High Commissioner and CMS alumnus Mr Gopal Baglay, IFS (Retd.), remarked, “It’s a matter of great pride for all his classmates, friends and associates to see Ashutosh Dixit reach the summit of a brilliant career in the Indian Air Force.” His former Principal, Ms Sudarsh Kaur, expressed pride that her student reached the highest pinnacle in his field.
CMS Founder-Director Dr Bharti Gandhi and Managing Director Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon extend their warmest wishes for his tenure, celebrating a journey that continues to inspire CMS students to pursue excellence.
