The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has officially taken over as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA) as of May 25, 2024. He succeeds Vice Admiral Ajay Kocchar in this prestigious role. An alumnus of the NDA in Khadakwasla, Vice Admiral Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990.
Vice Admiral Singh has a distinguished career with numerous key appointments both at sea and onshore. As a specialist in Gunnery and Missiles, he served on Indian Naval Ships Ranjit and Prahar. Notably, he was part of the commissioning crew of three indigenously constructed warships: INS Brahmaputra as a Gunnery Officer, INS Shivalik as an Executive Officer, and INS Kochi as Commanding Officer. He has also commanded INS Vidyut and INS Khukri. His instructional roles include serving at INS Dronacharya (Gunnery School) and as Deputy Commandant of the Naval War College, Goa. Additionally, he held staff positions at the Directorate of Personnel/NHQ and the Directorate of Naval Intelligence/NHQ, among others.
On November 29, 2022, Vice Admiral Singh took command of the Eastern Fleet. Under his leadership, the fleet maintained a high level of operational readiness, focusing on precision and mission success. Upon his promotion to Vice Admiral on January 15, 2024, he was appointed as Controller Personnel Service, where he implemented initiatives to enhance the working conditions for naval personnel.
Vice Admiral Singh’s accolades include the Admiral Katari Trophy for first in overall order of merit during ab initio training, the Chief of Naval Staff ‘Unit Citation’ for INS Khukri in 2011, the FOC-in-C Commendation (2002), the Nao Sena Medal (2020), and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024).
His academic credentials are equally impressive, holding an MSc and MPhil in Defence & Strategic Studies. He has attended various courses, including the Maritime Intelligence Course at the National Intelligence University in Washington and the United Nations Staff Officers Course in Stockholm.