Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM (born August 18, 1947) served as 19th Chief of the Indian Navy from 31 October 2006 until 31 August 2009. He was succeeded by Nirmal Kumar Verma. He is the first service chief from India's armed forces to be born post Indian Independence. He is married to Maria Teresa Mehta and they have two children.
Sureesh Mehta | |
|---|---|
 Sureesh Mehta interacting with the media on the eve of the Navy Day 2007, in New Delhi | |
| 15th Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand | |
| In office December 2009 – December 2011 | |
| Appointed by | President of India (then, Pratibha Patil) |
| Preceded by | K. P. Ernest |
| Succeeded by | Avanindra K. Pandey |
| 48th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | |
| In office 30 September 2007 – 31 August 2009 | |
| President | Pratibha Patil |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Joginder Jaswant Singh |
| Succeeded by | Deepak Kapoor |
| 19th Chief of the Naval Staff (India) | |
| In office 31 October 2006 – 31 August 2009 | |
| President | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Arun Prakash |
| Succeeded by | Nirmal Kumar Verma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 August 1947 |
| Spouse | Maria Teresa Mehta |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Navy Indian Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1967 – 2009 |
| Rank |   Admiral |
| Unit | Indian Naval Air Arm |
| Commands | Eastern Naval Command Western Fleet |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Lal Dora Kargil War |
| Award(s) | |
Early life
editAdmiral Mehta was born on 18 August 1947 at Gurdaspur, Punjab. He studied in the National Defence Academy before joining the Indian Navy. Later, he also graduated from the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.[citation needed]
Military career
editAfter graduating, Admiral Mehta joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Indian Navy, where he flew the Hawker Sea Hawk off the aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. He was the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet during the Kargil War. Later, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) from 30 September 2005 till his appointment as the Naval Chief. He was appointed the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on 28 September 2007.
Awards and distinctions
editIn 1995, Admiral Mehta was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal. In 2005, he received the Param Vishist Seva Medal.
High Commissioner to New Zealand
editAfter retirement, the Indian government appointed him as India's High Commissioner to New Zealand.[1][2][3]
Awards and decorations
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Admiral Sureesh Mehta is new envoy to New Zealand - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Indian High Commissioner in Lower Hutt". 26 January 2010.
- ^ "India warns of fallout over race slurs". 8 October 2010.