Admiral Sureesh Mehta PVSM, AVSM
Sureesh Mehta interacting with the media on the eve of the Navy Day 2007, in New Delhi
15th Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand
In office December 2009 – December 2011
Appointed by	President of India (then, Pratibha Patil)
Preceded by	K. P. Ernest
Succeeded by	Avanindra K. Pandey
48th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office 30 September 2007 – 31 August 2009
President	Pratibha Patil
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Joginder Jaswant Singh
Succeeded by	Deepak Kapoor
19th Chief of the Naval Staff (India)
In office 31 October 2006 – 31 August 2009
President	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Arun Prakash
Succeeded by	Nirmal Kumar Verma
Personal details
Born	(1947-08-18) 18 August 1947 (age 76)
Spouse	Maria Teresa Mehta
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Navy  Indian Coast Guard
Years of service	1967 – 2009
Rank	Admiral
Unit	Fleet Air Arm
Commands	Eastern Naval Command Western Fleet
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Lal Dora Kargil War
Award(s)	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Sangram Medal

Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM (born August 18, 1947) served as 19th Chief of the Indian Navy from 31 October 2006 until 31 August 2009. He was succeeded by Nirmal Kumar Verma. He is the first service chief from India's armed forces to be born post Indian Independence. He is married to Maria Teresa Mehta and they have two children.

Early life

Admiral Mehta was born on 18 August 1947 at Gurdaspur, Punjab. He studied in the National Defence Academy before joining the Indian Navy. Later, he also graduated from the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.^{[citation needed]}

Military career

After graduating, Admiral Mehta joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Indian Navy, where he flew the Hawker Sea Hawk off the aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. He was the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet during the Kargil War. Later, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) from 30 September 2005 till his appointment as the Naval Chief. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on 28 September 2007.

Awards and distinctions

In 1995, Admiral Mehta was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal. In 2005, he received the Param Vishist Seva Medal.

High Commissioner to New Zealand

After retirement, the Indian government appointed him as India's High Commissioner to New Zealand.^[1][2][3]

Awards and decorations