Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh takes over as Commandant, National Defence Academy

On 25 May 2024, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh took over as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, succeeding Vice Admiral Ajay Kocchar. A graduate of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), he joined the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1990.

Throughout his career, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has held various roles at sea and on land. With expertise in Gunnery and Missiles, he has served on Indian Naval Ships Ranjit and Prahar. Notably, he was part of the commissioning crew for three Indian-built warships: INS Brahmaputra as Gunnery Officer, INS Shivalik as Executive Officer, and INS Kochi as Commanding Officer. He has also commanded INS Vidyut & INS Khukri and served as an instructor at INS Dronacharya (Gunnery School) and Deputy Commandant of Naval War College, Goa.

In addition to his sea-based roles, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has served in staff positions at various headquarters. This includes roles at the Directorate of Personnel/NHQ as Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD), the Directorate of Naval Intelligence/NHQ, and the Indian Naval Work-up Team.

On 29 November 2022, he assumed the role of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. Throughout his time in this position, the fleet maintained a high level of operational readiness with a keen focus on the mission of ‘Ordnance on Target.’ Upon his promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral on 15 January 2024, he was appointed as Controller Personnel Service, where he spearheaded various initiatives to enhance the working conditions of personnel and the naval community.

He was honored with the Admiral Katarı Trophy for achieving ‘First in Overall Order of Merit’ in his batch during initial training. Under his leadership, INS Khukri received the Chief of Naval Staff Unit Citation in December 2011 for its exceptional operational effectiveness and successful anti-piracy operations. He has been the recipient of the FOC-in-C Commendation (2002), the Nao Sena Medal (2020), and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024).

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh brings a wealth of experience and expertise in various areas including operations, training, and human resource management to his role as Head of the National Defence Academy. His educational background includes earning an MSc and MPhil in Defence & Strategic Studies. He has also completed prestigious courses such as the Staff Course at DSSC Wellington, Higher Command at Naval War College, and NDC courses in India.

Additionally, he has participated in the Maritime Intelligence Course at National Intelligence University (NIU) in Washington and the United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) in Stockholm, Sweden. His impressive qualifications and training make him a valuable asset to the National Defence Academy.