Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha PVSM AVSM NM& BAR, ADC
Appointed as Commander in Chief Western Naval Command
to Take Over from Vice Admiral DK Joshi
The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, presently Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) as the next Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command with effect from August 31, 2012 when Vice Admiral DK Joshi the present Commander-in-Chief takes over as the Chief of the Naval Staff.
Born on August 10, 1954 Vice Admiral Sinha was commissioned on June 01, 1974 in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy as a fighter pilot.
During his long and distinguished service spanning over 38 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. Vice Admiral Sinha, a Qualified Flying Instructor, has over 2700 hrs of flying on 18 different types of aircraft. Majority of his flying has been on the Sea Harrier from the aircraft carriers. He has Commanded two Sea Harrier Squadrons and Air Station INS Hansa, at Goa. His sea Commands include ICGS Ranijindan, INS Saryu, INS Shakti and INS Delhi.
In the Flag rank, Admiral Sinha has held a wide array of appointments such as Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Air [ACNS(Air)], the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) and Controller Personnel Services (CPS) before taking over as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).
Vice Admiral Sinha is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi.
Vice Admiral Sinha has been decorated with Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM), Nau Sena Medal (NM) and Bar and he is one of the Honorary ADCs of the Supreme Commander.
Vice Admiral SPS Cheema AVSM NM has been appointed to take over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) from Vice Admiral Sinha.
PVS