Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha served in the Navy for four decades and retired as Commander in Chief of the Western Naval Command. He joined the Navy as a pilot in the fighter stream and went on to fly from all three aircraft carriers the Navy has had. He has commanded two fighter squadrons and air station at Goa. He has had equally challenging assignments at sea as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Ship Rani Jindan, Naval Ships Saryu, Shakti and Destroyer Delhi. He was later appointed as Western Fleet’s Operations Officer during Operation Parakram after terrorist attack on parliament. As a Rear Admiral he has been Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff ( Air) and Fleet Commander of the Western Fleet. In the rank of Vice Admiral he has been Controller Personnel, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Operations and Perspective Planning. Later he was the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff during which 15 year Integrated Perspective Plan Of three services was approved by the Government. His last appointment in Mumbai was head of Maritime and Coastal Security Of The Western Seaboard Of India. He has been decorated with PVSM, AVSM and two Gallantry Awards NAO Sena Medal and Bar.
He is an alumni of Defence Services Staff College, College Of Naval Warfare and National Defence College. He holds MSc and MPhill degrees.
He is a prolific security and strategic analyst and commentator. He writes and speaks at large number of think tank forums within and outside India.
He is on Board Of Trustees, India Foundation, Member Executive Council IDSA, Governing Council USI, Advisory Panel, CENJOWS, Member IISS ( London). He is an Independent Member for Union Territory Security for L&M islands in the Home Ministry.