Surinder Pal Singh Cheema

Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM
Vice Admiral SPS Cheema inspecting a ceremonial parade at INS Shikra
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	January 1977–31 January 2016
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Western Naval Command Southern Naval Command Strategic Forces Command Integrated Defence Staff Western fleet Indian Naval Academy INS Viraat INS Trishul INS Khanjar OPV Vigilant INS Nishank
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Nausena Medal

Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM is an Indian Navy officer, served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command^[1] of the Indian Navy and as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. He retired from the service on 31 January 2016 after four decades of service.^[2]

Personal life and Education

He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, The Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare (CNW), Mumbai. He is a keen sportsman and plays Squash and Golf.

Military career

Vice Admiral SPS Cheema (right) with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar (center) and CNS RK Dhowan during commissioning of INS Vajrakosh

The Admiral was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1977. A specialist in Missile and Gunnery, he spent majority of his time on afloat and operational appointments. He has had the distinction of being the Commanding Officer of five frontline ships, namely, the missile boat INS Nishank, Mauritian Coast Guard OPV Vigilant, the missile corvette INS Khanjar, the stealth frigate INS Trishul and the prestigious Aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

He has the unique distinction of winning both the Lentaigne (Best Dissertation) and Scudder Medals (First in overall order of merit) while undergoing course at DSSC.

On promotion to the Flag rank in May 2006, he was appointed ACNS, Information Warfare and Operations (IW & Ops) at Integrated HQ, Ministry of Defence (Navy). His other flag appointments include the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, Controller Personnel Services, IHQ MoD (Navy), DCIDS Perspective Planning and Force Development (PP&FD) and DCIDS (DOT). His appointment as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command is a unique distinction being his fourth Command as a Commander-in-Chief since being promoted to C-in-C grade on 31 Aug 12. Prior to this he has been the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command from 2014 to 2015,^[3] Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command - a Tri-Services Command responsible for all nuclear forces of the country and the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. He had also been the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy and Commanding Officer INS Mandovi.^[4] He retired on 31 January 2015 from the position of FOC-in-C Western Naval Command after four decades of service. Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba succeeded him as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command.^[2]

Awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Nausena Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

Gallery

Admiral RK Dhowan being congratulated by SPS Cheema after taking over as new Chief of Naval Staff
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and other dignitaries at the undocking of INS Kalvari
Exchange of baton between Vice Admiral SPS Cheema and Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Vice Admiral SPS Cheema on board FNS Charles De Gaulle
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, and Indian and French naval personnel on board arcraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on board INS Kolkata
C. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, during his visit to INS Shishumar

References

↑ "Vice Admiral SPS Cheema takes over as FOC-in-C(West), Western Naval Command". Indian Navy. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
1 2 "Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba Takes Over Western Naval Command". PIB. Govt. of India. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
↑ "Vice Admiral SPS Cheema takes over as FOC-in-c (South)". Indian Navy. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
↑ "Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command". Indian Navy. Retrieved January 27, 2016.

Military offices
Preceded by Anil Chopra	Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command 2015-2016	Succeeded by Sunil Lanba
Preceded by Satish Soni	Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command 2014-2015	Succeeded by Sunil Lanba

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