Sinha is Chief of Defense Staff

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

July 4, 2011

Even as IAF Chief P V Naik wanted a detailed debate on the need for a Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha has taken over as the Chief of Integrated Defense Staff to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) and Integrated Defense Staff of the Ministry of Defense. 

Sinha had earlier served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff Operation and Policy Planning / Force Deployment at HQ IDS and Control Personnel Services at IHQ, MoD (Navy). 

Commissioned in  1974 into the Naval Aviation Fighter Stream, Sinha is an alumnus of the Defense Services Staff College, College of Naval Warfare and National Defense College.   

He has over 2,700 hours of flying 18 different aircraft, mostly from aircraft carrier Vikrant and Viraat on the Sea Harrier, he has commanded two Sea Harrier Squadrons and the Air Station at Goa.   

The Flag Officer has also commanded the Coast Guard ship Ranijindan during Operation Pawan, Indian Navy Ships Saryu, Shakti and Missile Destroyer Delhi.  He was the Fleet Operations Officer of Western Fleet during Operation Parakram  and later commanded the sword arm of the Navy – the Western Fleet, says a statement.