Vice Admiral Rustom Faramroze Contractor, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the 17th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, from 2006 to 2008. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22).
Rustom Faramroze Contractor | |
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Nickname(s) | Rusi |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() ![]() |
Years of service | 1971–2008 |
Rank | ![]() ![]() |
Commands | Indian Coast Guard Western Fleet INS Viraat (R22) INS Ranvijay (D55) INS Rajput (D51) INS Sukanya (P50) |
Awards | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Early life and education
editContractor was born in Nagpur. He completed his education at the St. Francis De'Sales High School. He subsequently joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla in 1967.[1]
Naval career
editContractor was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1971. After a few sea tenures, he opted to specialise in Navigation and Direction. In the late 80s, the Navy started to acquire offshore patrol vessels from South Korea. Contractor was the commissioning commanding officer lead ship of the Sukanya-class patrol vessel, INS Sukanya (P50). He commissioned the vessel in South Korea on 31 August 1989 and brought her home to India.[2] He attended the Naval higher command course (NHCC) at the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja.[1]
Contractor served as the Commanding Officer INS Jarawa & Naval Officer-in-Charge, Port Blair. He also commanded the Rajput-class guided-missile destroyers INS Rajput (D51) and INS Ranvijay (D55). In December 1997, he took over as the Commanding Officer of the naval base in Goa, INS Mandovi. He concurrently served as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy. The academy moved to its present location, Ezhimala, in 2008.[1]
On 15 June 2000, Contractor took command of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22). He was the 10th commanding officer of the carrier. He was in command of the carrier during the first International Fleet review in 2001 in Mumbai. He later served as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command. He also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.[3]
Flag rank
editContractor was promoted acting rank of rear admiral and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Information Warfare and Operations (ACNS IW&O). This appointment was that of an assistant Principal Staff Officer at Naval HQ. He subsequently moved to Kochi as the Chief of Staff (COS), Southern Naval Command. On 26 January 2005, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.[4] After a year-long tenure as COS, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). He was the FOCWF during the President's fleet review in 2006, flying his flag on INS Ranjit (D53).[5]
Contractor took command of the Western Fleet from Rear Admiral Pratap Singh Byce on 11 May 2005. After a year-long stint as FOCWF, he relinquished command, handing over to Rear Admiral Anup Singh. He moved to NHQ as the Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects (ACCP).[1]
DGICG
editThe Indian Coast Guard (ICG) came into being on 19 August 1978. The new service was to function under the overall command and control of a Director General (DGICG).[6] On 31 August 2006, Contractor was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and took over as the 17th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (DGICG), succeeding Director General Dr. P Paleri.[7][8][9][10][11] During his tenure, the third Coast Guard air enclave (in Probandar) was commissioned. In 2007, he met with his Pakistani counterpart, the Director General Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Rear Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar to resolve issues regarding violation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The hotline between the two Director General was also established during his tenure.[12][13]
He served as the DGICG over two-and-a-half years. He relinquished charge on 30 November 2008 to Vice Admiral Anil Chopra.[14]
Post-retirement
editContractor retired after 37 years of service on 30 November 2008. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2009 for his tenure as DGICG.[15] In August 2009, the Armed Forces Tribunal was set up by an act of Parliament. Contractor was among the 15 administrative members of the tribunal, and was part of the Mumbai bench.[16]
Awards and decorations
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Vice admiral Rustom Faramroze contractor is new DG Coast Guard". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Singh 2005.
- ^ "Aviator lands navy top post". telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Gazette of India" (PDF). archive.org. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Rajender Singh takes charge as SNC Chief of Staff". Zee News. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "COAST GUARD TO BE FORMED IN AUGUST" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 29 June 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Former Director General:Indian Coast Guard". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Antony to induct 5th AOPV 'ICGS Sankalp' into coast guard tomorrow". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Defence Minister Underlines the need to Strengthen Coast Guard". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ View, Our (3 February 2008). "Sethusamudram and security". mint. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Coast Guard gets an eye in the sky". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "CG gets new Air Enclave to boost coastal surveillance". The Economic Times. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "New coast guard chief in action station". The Economic Times. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Armed Forces Tribunal to be inaugurated tomorrow". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Hiranandani, G M (2005), Transition to eminence : the Indian navy 1976-1990, Lancer Publishers, ISBN 978-8170622666