Commissioned on June 1, 1974 as a combat pilot in the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Sinha has had distinguished career. He retired from service as the head of India’s Western Naval Command, considered the sword arm of the Indian Navy. He also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS), a key tri-service appointment that played a central role in joint service operations, planning and big-ticket acquisitions.
As a frontline Naval aviator, Admiral Sinha was part of the two-man team that travelled to the United Kingdom to induct the Sea Harrier combat jets, the first vertical take-off and landing capable jets in the Indian military. He commanded a ship during operations against the LTTE as a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force, an operational fighter squadron, the Navy’s key air base INS Hansa, he commanded a series of frontline ships INS Saryu, Shakti and captained INS Delhi, a guided missile destroyer. He also served as a Joint Director (Naval Air Staff) at Naval Headquarters.
He served as a fleet operations officer of the Western fleet during Operation Parakram, overseeing plans and operational deployments before eventually taking over as the Fleet Commander. During his stint as the CIDS he had command over all tri-service planning and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). He also held assignments of Flag Officer Naval Aviation/ Goa Area, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), Controller of Personnel Services, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Operations and later Perspective Planning & Force Development.
He retired as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command that oversaw all operations on India’s western seaboard. Vice Admiral Sinha has been decorated with the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM), Nao Sena Medal (NM) and Bar and an Honorary ADCs of the Supreme Commander.
As a Co-Founder of DeepStrat, Vice Admiral Sinha brings decades of experience as a combat naval aviator, commander of India’s joint services that also cleared major military acquisitions, and as the head of its most significant operation command.