Surinder Pal Singh Cheema
| Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM | |
|---|---|
 Vice Admiral SPS Cheema inspecting a ceremonial parade on INS Shikra | |
| Allegiance |
 India |
| Service/branch |
 Indian Navy |
| Years of service | January 1977–31 January 2016 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
|
| Awards | |
Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema PVSM, AVSM, NM is a retired Indian Navy officer who served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Western and [1] Southern Naval Commands. He also served as the Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command and the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS) to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee.[1] He retired from the service on January 31, 2016, after four decades of service.[2]
Personal life and education
He was graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He attended the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington where he was awarded the Lentaigne and Scudder Medals (for best dissertation and being "first in overall order of merit"). He also attended the College of Naval Warfare (CNW), Mumbai.[3]
Military career
Cheema was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1977. As a commanding officer, he commanded the missile boat INS Nishank, the Khukri class missile corvette INS Khanjar, the Talwar class stealth frigate INS Trishul and the Centaur class aircraft carrier INS Viraat. He also headed the naval base INS Mandovi.[3]
He also 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 (PP&FD) and for DOT in two different assignments. Apart from these he served as the Chief of the Staff of Western Naval Command and as the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Fleet. He served in four different appointments as a Commander-in-Chief since being promoted to C-in-C grade on August 31, 2012. He served as the FOC-in-C of Southern Naval Command from 2014 to 2015; Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command; Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS) to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee; and as lastly as the FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command. He also served as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy. He retired on January 31, 2015, after four decades of service; Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba succeeded him as FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command.[4][2]
Awards
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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 aircraft 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
- 1 2 "Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba Takes Over Western Naval Command". PIB. Govt. of India. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- 1 2 "Vice Admiral Cheema takes over as chief of Southern Naval Command". The Hindu. June 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Vice Admiral SPS Cheema takes over as FOC-in-c (South)". 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 |