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. He previously served as the Director General Air Operations, and prior to that he was Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command. He is also the Commodore Commandant of No. 20 Squadron.
Early life and education The Air officer is an alumnus of the 74th Course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of National Defence College, New Delhi.
Military career He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 14 June 1989 from the Air Force Academy. 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. He has served as Chief Test Pilot at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment and was Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Israel.
As an Air Commodore, he served as Air Assistant to the Chief of Air Satff, as the Air Officer Commanding of 14 Wing, Chabua, Assam and as Air Cmde (Opl Plg Assesstment and Strategy) at the Air Headquarters, New Delhi. As an Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Projects and as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans.
After getting promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 1 October 2024, he assumed the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command. 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. 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.
Awards and decorations During his career, the air marshal has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019 and the Vayu Sena Medal in 2010. He has also received commendations from the Chief of Air Staff.
Ati Vishisht Seva MedalVayu Sena MedalSamanya Seva MedalSainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Independence Anniversary Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal
Date of ranks InsigniaRankComponentDate of rankPilot OfficerIndian Air Force14 June 1989Flying OfficerIndian Air Force14 June 1990Flight LieutenantIndian Air Force14 June 1994Squadron LeaderIndian Air Force14 June 1996Wing CommanderIndian Air Force16 December 2004Group CaptainIndian Air Force21 January 2011Air CommodoreIndian Air Force1 March 2016Air Vice MarshalIndian Air Force1 June 2022Air MarshalIndian Air Force1 October 2024 (AOC-in-C from 1 May 2026)
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