He assumed the office on 1 August 2021 succeeding Air Marshal Richard John Duckworth.

[1] Suraj Kumar Jha was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 8 June, 1984.

In a distinguish career spanning 37 years, he has flown a variety of fighter and trainer aircraft with more than 2900 hours of operational flying.

He is an alumnus of the Air Force Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

[5] During his career, Suraj Kumar Jha was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and was Mention-in-Despatches by Chief of the Air Staff in 1999 for his actions in Kargil War.