Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh Takes Charge as Controller Personnel Services

New Delhi;  Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh assumed the prestigious role of Controller Personnel Services (CPS) on January 15, 2024, bringing his extensive naval experience to this crucial position. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), Vice Admiral Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990, marking the beginning of a distinguished career.

With a rich academic background, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (Wellington), Naval War College (Goa), and National Defence College (New Delhi). His specialization in Gunnery and Missiles has been the foundation of his contributions to various naval operations.

Throughout his career, Vice Admiral Singh has held numerous command and staff appointments, showcasing his versatility both afloat and ashore. Noteworthy commands include INS Vidyut, INS Khukri, and INS Kochi, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership. His instructional roles at INS Dronacharya (Gunnery School) and Deputy Commandant of Naval War College (Goa) underline his commitment to training and development.

In his role as Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh played a pivotal role in planning and executing Search and Rescue operations during Cyclone Tauktae. His responsibilities extended to overseeing the supply chain of Liquid Medical Oxygen during Op Samudra Setu II and coordinating various operational missions and deployments, including joint exercises with foreign Navies.

Vice Admiral Singh’s significant contributions were further evident during his tenure as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, where he maintained high operational preparedness with a focus on the mission of ‘Ordnance on Target.’

The distinguished naval officer holds the unique distinction of being part of the commissioning crew of three Indian-constructed warships: INS Brahmaputra (as Gunnery Officer), INS Shivalik (as Executive Officer), and INS Kochi (as Commanding Officer). He has been honored with the Admiral Kataria Trophy for standing ‘First in Overall Order of Merit’ during his ab initio training. Notably, INS Khukri, under his command, received the ‘Unit Citation’ in December 2011 for its operational effectiveness and successful conduct of anti-piracy operations.

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh’s academic qualifications include MSc and MPhil (Defence & Strategic Studies), and he has pursued advanced courses in maritime intelligence at National Intelligence University (NIU), Washington, and the United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Beyond his illustrious naval career, Vice Admiral Singh is a devoted family man. Married to Mrs. Kamaljit Chatha, an MBA graduate in marketing and finance, they are proud parents to two daughters – Anushka, an Electronics Engineer working with Amazon Web Services, and Tammanna, currently pursuing graduation in Humanities at Jaihind College, Mumbai.