Ahmedabad: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor PVSM AVSM VM took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command (SWAC) on 01 May 2025. On arrival, he was presented with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at HQ SWAC, Gandhinagar. He succeeds Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari PVSM AVSM VM, who has taken over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, an official statement said.

The Air Marshal graduated from the National Defence Academy in December 1985 and was commissioned in the IAF on 06 December 1986. He is a highly experienced fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader who has flown a variety of combat and trainer aircraft. He has flown all variants of MiG-21 and the MiG-29 with more than 3400 flying hours to his credit. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.

During his illustrious career, he has held numerous field and staff appointments. His operational tenures include being the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron in the Central Sector, Station Commander of a flying base in the Western Sector and Air Officer Commanding of a premier air base. He has also done instructional tenures as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College and Chief Instructor (Flying) at Air Force Academy during which he was instrumental in the induction and operationalization of PC-7 MK II aircraft in the Indian Air Force. He has also served as Defence Attaché, Pakistan

His senior staff appointments include Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Strategy) at Air HQ, Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Central Air Command and Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel at Air HQ

Prior to assuming the charge as the AOC-in-C, SWAC, the Air Marshal was AOC-in-C, Training Command. For his distinguished service, the Air Marshal was awarded with Vayu Sena Medal in 2008, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025. DeshGujarat