Air Marshal gets Ram temple mantle
With three new trustees and a new CEO, the temple trust begins an administrative reset
Air Marshal (retired) Jeetendra Mishra, who played a pivotal role in planning and executing Operation Sindoor as the Western Air Command chief, was named the first CEO of the Ram Temple trust. An ace fighter and test pilot with 40 years of service, he was selected from a shortlist of three candidates picked from 5,585 applications. The temple trust also decided on three new trust members, Madan Mohan Pandey from Ayodhya, Mahesh Bhagchandka from Delhi and Nirmala Yadav from Shikohabad, at a meeting held at the residence of the trust president, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. Senior members present included treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri, interim general secretary Dr Krishna Mohan, and trustee Mahant Dinendra Das. Officials said everyone agreed on the CEO after the search committee gave them a shortlist of three names.
Mishra, from Bhopatpura in Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh, retired from the Air Force on April 30 after almost 40 years of service. He became a fighter pilot in December 1986, flew over 3,000 hours, and held various operational, testing and senior staff roles.
Before leading the Western Air Command in January 2025, he served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). He is a fighter combat leader and test pilot. He studied at 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 most recent major role was as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. He has received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.
According to the temple trust, the CEO will set up systems and procedures that fit the institution’s size, improve its structure, and manage daily operations, pilgrim facilities, staffing, financial arrangements, security coordination and the management of large religious events. Ritual and spiritual authority remains with the trust’s religious leadership.
The appointment comes after allegations of donations thefts at the temple. Eight people, mostly involved in counting offerings, were arrested. Former general secretary Champat Rai resigned in June, taking moral responsibility. Trustee Anil Mishra and another official also resigned.
The trust accepted the resignations and named Dr Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary while it changed its administrative structure. The CEO was chosen through an open process.
