Satish Soni

Vice Admiral Satish Soni is a retired Indian Navy officer. He is a former Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command[1] and Eastern Command.[3]

Vice Admiral Satish Soni PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	1 July 1976 [1] - 2016
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Eastern Command Southern Command [1] National Defence Academy INS Kirpan INS Talwar INS Delhi
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal Aide-de-camp [2]

Education

Soni is an alumnus of the NDA and a specialist in Navigation and Aircraft Direction, the Flag Officer is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.[1][2]

Career

Soni was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1976. The Flag Officer's sea commands include the ocean going Pondicherry-class minesweeper INS Kakinada(M 70), the guided missile corvette INS Kirpan, the guided-missile frigate INS Talwar and the guided missile destroyer Delhi. He has had the honour of having commissioned two warships, Kakinada and Talwar, in Russia, as the Commanding Officer. His staff appointments include Deputy Director of Personnel, Joint Director of Naval Plans and Naval Assistant to Chief of the Naval Staff at Integrated Headquarters-Ministry of Defence (Navy).[4][5]

VAdm Satish Soni presenting a memento to Lt Gen Jatinder Sikand (Engineer-in-Chief)

Vice Admiral Satish Soni taking the salute at the 2015 Republic Day Parade

On his elevation to Flag rank, assumed responsibilities as the Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development) at Integrated Headquarters-Ministry of Defence (Navy). Subsequently, the Flag Officer commanded the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, and thereafter took over as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. Vice Admiral Satish then followeded it by being appointed as Commandant, National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla, Pune from 22 November 2009 to 31 December 2010.[6] He served as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command from 2012 to 2014.[1] In his previous assignment, the Vice Admiral served as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff at Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defence (Navy) at New Delhi.[1][2][7]

He served as Commander in Chief Eastern Command[3] before his retirement in 2016.[8]

Soni is a keen sportsman and represented the Indian Navy in squash and golf in his younger days.[3][9][10]

Awards and Decorations

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Nausena Medal	Special Service Medal
Operation Parakram Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	50th Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal
	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

[1][2][3][6]

References

1. "Vice Admiral Soni is C-in-C, Southern Command". Indian Strategic. May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
2. "Satish Soni takes over as ENC chief". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
3. "Vice Admiral Satish Soni takes over as FOC-in-C East". Indian Navy. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
4. "INS Astradharini Joins The Indian Navy". Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
5. "Indian Naval Ships Enter Fremantle (Perth), Australia". PIB. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
6. "Commandants Gallery". National Defence Academy. MoD. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
7. "VICE ADMIRAL SATISH SONI ASSUMES DUTIES OF FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING IN CHIEF, SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND" (pdf-286 Kb). indiannavy.nic.in (Press release). 31 May 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
8. "Vice Admiral HCS Bisht taking over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command". Indian Navy. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
9. "FOC in C East: VICE ADMIRAL SATISH SONI, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC". Indian Navy (indiannavy.nic.in). Retrieved 6 October 2015.
10. "Three Immediate Support Vessels Commisioned [sic] at Visakhapatnam". PIB. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.