The Commandant of the Academy is a Three-star rank officer from the three Services in rotation.

He is supported by the Deputy Commandant (a Two-star rank appointment),[1] Brigadier Administration (Brig Adm),[2] Principal Director (Training)[3] (both One-Star appointments), a Civilian Principal[4] and the Adjutant (An Officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel).

The first Commandant of JSW was Major General Thakur Mahadeo Singh, DSO.

The present-day National Defence Academy was constructed in Pune and was formally commissioned on 7 December 1954 as the successor to JSW of IMA.

Major General Enaith Habibullah was the last head of the JSW and the First Commandant of NDA at Pune.