New Delhi: Lt General VK Singh, the
Eastern Army Commander and senior-most infantry officer, was
on Friday named as the next Army chief and will take over his new
post after incumbent Gen Deepak Kapoor retires on March 31.
The Defence Ministry issued the order after the
Cabinet Committee on Appointments cleared Singh's name for the
top post, senior ministry sources said here.
He is the third generation officer from the Rajput
regiment.
Singh, a graduate of the Defense Services Staff
College, Wellington as well as the Rangers Course at Fort
Benning, USA and the US Army War College, Carlisle, was
commissioned into the 2 Rajput in June 1970 and commanded the
same unit when it was positioned along the LoC.
Experienced in counter insurgency, LoC and high
altitude operations, Singh was awarded the Yudh Sena Medal for
his distinguished service during 'Operation Pawan' against
LTTE in Sri Lanka.
He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
for distinguished service while commanding a counter
insurgency force.
Singh, who has also seen action in Bangladesh war,
served in the the Military Operations Directorate at the Army
Headquarters and Brigadier General Staff of a Corps during
'Operation Parakram'.
He has also served as an instructor at the Indian
Military Training Team (IMTRAT) headquarters in Bhutan.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 22, 2010, 12:40