Sushil Kumar (admiral)


Sushil Kumar Isaac, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, NM was an Indian Navy Admiral who served as Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. A native of Neyyoor, he ceased to use his surname of Isaac because it caused confusion with his brother, who shares the same initials and is also a naval officer.

Background and career

Sushil Kumar assumed charge of the Indian Navy, as the 16th Chief of Naval Staff, on 30 December 1998. A specialist in hydrography and amphibious warfare, he is also a qualified air warfare instructor. He participated in the 1961 invasion of Goa and in both the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. As Director of Naval Operations, he was decorated with an Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for his exceptional conduct in Operation Pawan and in Operation Cactus. He was awarded the Naosena Medal for gallantry whilst in command of INS Ghorpad. He is an alumnus of the National Defence College and was an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. His training abroad includes a deputation to the Royal Navy on board in 1963 and a course in amphibious warfare with the US Navy at Coronado, California, in 1976.
Kumar has held operational commands and important posts such as the Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, the Flag Officer Maharashtra Area, Commander of the Flotilla in Mumbai and Fortress Commander, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, before being appointed as the Chief of Naval Staff. During his tenure as CNS, He was the highest-decorated serving officer in the Indian Navy, and he retired on 29 December 2001. He is a keen yachtsman and has played polo on the international circuit, for which he has an international rating of 4+ goals.

Death

Kumar died on 27 November 2019 at the Indian Army Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi at the age of 79. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences upon this.

Awards and Decorations