Admiral Sushil Kumar Isaacs, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, NM (died 27 November 2019) was an Indian Navy Admiral who served as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy. He was the Director of Naval Operations during Operation Pawan and Operation Cactus and was the CNS during the Kargil War.
Sushil Kumar Isaacs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16th Chief of the Naval Staff | |
| In office 30 December 1998 – 29 December 2001 | |
| President | K. R. Narayanan |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | Vishnu Bhagwat |
| Succeeded by | Madhvendra Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neyyoor, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | 27 November 2019 New Delhi |
| Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Navy |
| Years of service | 1961 - 2001 |
| Rank |   Admiral |
| Commands | Chief of the Naval Staff Southern Naval Command FORTAN |
| Battles/wars | Goa Liberation of 1961 Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 Kargil War |
Early life
editA native of Neyyoor (Nagercoil), he joined the Indian Navy and was commissioned in 1961. He ceased to use his surname of Isaacs[1] because it caused confusion with his brother, who shares the same initials and is also a naval officer.[2] He was an alumni of The Bishop's School, Pune
Naval career
editA specialist in hydrography and amphibious warfare,[3] Kumar was also a qualified air warfare instructor. He was an alumnus of the National Defence College and was an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. His training abroad included a deputation to the Royal Navy on board HMS Dampier in 1963 and a course in amphibious warfare with the US Navy at Coronado, California, in 1976.[4] He participated in the 1961 invasion of Goa and in both the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. He was awarded the Nao Sena Medal for gallantry whilst in command of INS Ghorpad.
Kumar was promoted to substantive commander on 1 January 1977 and to captain on 1 January 1983.[5][6] As Director of Naval Operations, he was decorated with the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his exceptional conduct in Operation Pawan and in Operation Cactus (Liberation of Maldives).
Flag rank
editKumar was promoted to substantive rear admiral on 6 July 1990.[7] Kumar held operational commands and important posts such as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), Commander of the Flotilla in Mumbai and Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN). He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command in Kochi, before being appointed the Chief of Naval Staff. Sushil Kumar assumed charge of the Indian Navy, as the 16th Chief of Naval Staff, on 30 December 1998. During his tenure as CNS, He was the highest-decorated serving officer in the Indian Navy, and he retired on 29 December 2001. He was a keen yachtsman and played polo on the international circuit, for which he had an international rating of 4+ goals.[4]
Death
editKumar died on 27 November 2019 at the Indian Army Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi at the age of 79. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences upon this.[8][9]
Awards and decorations
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References
edit- ^ Edit from family
- ^ Sawant, Gaurav C. (6 January 1999). "Indian Express: Harinder's appointment will be reconsidered: CNS". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Admiral Sushil Kumar". Indian Navy Information Resource and Facilitation Centre. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Admiral Sushil Kumar". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 31 December 1977. p. 1400.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 July 1983. p. 1234.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 May 1993. p. 970.
- ^ "PM condoles demise of former Navy chief Sushil Kumar". Press Trust of India. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019 – via The Week.
- ^ Delhi, Special Correspondent New (28 November 2019). "Former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar dead". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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