Surinder Pal Singh Cheema
Surinder Pal Singh Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former Flag Officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western and Southern Naval Commands. He also served as the Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command and the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the [Chiefs of Staff Committee]. He retired from the service on 31 January 2016, after almost four decades of service.
Early life and education
Cheema attended the Sainik School, Kunjpura. He then graduated from the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1977.Military career
Cheema is a missile and gunnery specialist. He was the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the Missile boat and commanded the missile corvette. He also commissioned the stealth frigate as the commanding officer. He served as the 14th Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier. Ashore, he commanded the naval base INS Mandovi in Goa.He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington where he was awarded the Lentaigne and Scudder Medals. He also attended the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.
Flag Rank
As a Rear Admiral, Cheema commanded the Western Fleet from 2008 to 2009.In his staff appointments, he served as the Controller Personnel Services at the Integrated Headquarters. He served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff for Perspective Planning and Force Development and for DOT in two different assignments. Apart from these, he served as the Chief of the Staff of Western Naval Command.
After promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, he served in four different appointments as a Commander-in-Chief since being promoted to C-in-C grade on 31 August 2012. He served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 31 August 2011 to 1 November 2012; Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command from 1 November 2012 to June 2014; FOC-in-C of Southern Naval Command from 2014 to 2015; and as lastly as the FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command from 1 April 2015 to 31 January 2016. He also served as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy. He retired on 31 January 2016, after four decades of service; Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba succeeded him as FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command.