The recent conclusion of the 48th Higher Air Command Course (HACC) at the College of Air Warfare (CAW) in Secunderabad marked a significant achievement in promoting leadership and fostered synergy among senior officers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The valedictory function was honored by the presence of Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command, who served as the Chief Guest for the occasion.
The Higher Air Command Course, a comprehensive 44-week program, is engineered specifically for Group Captains and Wing Commanders of the Indian Air Force’s Flying Branch, alongside their counterparts from the Army and Navy. The course prepares these officers for pivotal senior command and staff positions, aligning their skills with modern military demands. The curriculum encompasses a wide array of subjects, including air power doctrine, computer-aided war gaming, and specialized topics such as nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare, administration, law, electronic warfare, and management. Notably, the course also incorporates joint exercises at the Army War College in Mhow, emphasizing the importance of integrated military operations and enhancing collaborative strategies across the services. A critical element of the course is the completion of a dissertation, which allows participants to present their strategic insights and analyses.
During the valedictory ceremony, the significance of the HACC in improving operational readiness and inter-service cooperation was underscored, resonating with the Indian Armed Forces’ vision encapsulated in the themes of #OnThePathofLeadership and #Synergy. A momentous group photograph captured the graduating officers in their distinguished uniforms, proudly posing in front of a backdrop celebrating the “College of Air Warfare – 48th Higher Air Command Course Valedictory Function,” complemented by the display of awards and trophies.
In his address, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, a seasoned fighter pilot with over 38 years of dedication to service, stressed the critical necessity of adaptive leadership in the context of modern warfare. Having been commissioned in 1986, Mishra has notably served in various high-level command and staff roles and is honored with esteemed awards such as the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service. He took command of the Western Air Command on January 1, 2025.
The College of Air Warfare, which was established in 1959, continues to stand as a leading tri-service institution within the Indian Air Force with a dedicated focus on training officers in air warfare strategies and leadership development. Additionally, the institution hosts the Centre for Leadership-Training And Behavioural Sciences (C-LABS), which is aimed at nurturing essential leadership and managerial skills among junior and middle-level officers.
The successful completion of this year’s HACC reaffirms the Indian Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to nurturing jointmanship and preparing their leaders to effectively navigate the evolving challenges presented by modern warfare.
