Satish Soni Explained

Honorific Prefix:	Vice Admiral
Satish Soni
Honorific Suffix:	PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC
Serviceyears:	1 July 1976 - 2016
Rank:	Vice Admiral
Commands:	Eastern Command Southern Command National Defence Academy
Awards:	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal Aide-de-camp

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 and Eastern Command.

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.

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, the guided-missile frigate 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).^{[1] [2]} 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.^[3] He served as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command from 2012 to 2014. 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.^{[4] [5] [6]}

He served as Commander in Chief Eastern Command before his retirement in 2016.^[7]

Soni is a keen sportsman and represented the Indian Navy in squash and golf in his younger days.^{[8] [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

Notes and References

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