He assumed office on 31 January 2021 following the retirement of Air Marshal Navkaranjit Singh Dhillon.

[3][4][5] Kumar is an alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.

[6][7] Kumar was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 4 June 1982.

He has commanded a fighter aircraft squadron and a front-line air base.

[6][7] His other appointments include team leader of project monitoring team for AWACS project in Israel, director of the Indian Air Force project management team at Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore and Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command, Shillong.