Rodrigues joined the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Military Academy in 1949 and was commissioned on 28 December 1952 into the Regiment of Artillery.[1] After serving in several field and self-propelled artillery units he applied for pilot training in the air observation post of the Artillery in 1964 and qualified as an artillery aviation pilot. Between 1964 and 1969, he logged more than 158 flying hours on observation aircraft and helicopters, including 65 hours of combat flying during the 1965 war in which his unit logged on more than 56 precision artillery fire to effect on enemy formations.
He attended the Defence Services Staff College and took over as GSO II operations in XXXIII Corps HQ in 1971. In 1972, after the war with Pakistan, he was awarded the VSM for distinguished service.[4] He later served as a GSO I operations of a division from 1973 to 1975.
As a Brigadier, he commanded a mountain infantry brigade in a high altitude sector from 1975 to 1977. Post this, Rodrigues attended the 1978 course at Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He was Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981.
General officeredit
Rodrigues was then promoted to the rank of Major General and then took over the command of a division in a high altitude area. In 1982, he was awarded the master's degree in Defence Studies. He then served as the Chief of Staff of a Corps from 1983 to September 1985 after which he took over as Director General Military Training (DGMT).
After promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, Rodrigues took command of a corps in the Northern Sector in 1986.
He was Vice Chief of Army Staff from November 1987 to April 1989 and then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command from April 1989 to October 1989. He then took over Western Command from 1 November 1989 to 30 June 1990 and was the Chief of Army Staff from 1990 to 1993. He retired on 30 June 1993 after nearly 41 years of service.
Public serviceedit
After his retirement Rodrigues was Director of the International Centre, Goa for nearly six years. He served two terms on the National Security Advisory Board. Since his retirement, he has been engaged in social and literary pursuits and has also delivered talks on strategic issues. He takes a keen interest in education and empowering children to achieve their potential. He was on the Executive Council of Goa University for seven years and on the Managing Committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce. He is also a long-standing Member of the Goa Planning Board and on the Board of Governors of the Goa Institute of Management.
Governor of Punjabedit
Rodrigues was appointed Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on 8 November 2004, and he was sworn into office on 16 November 2004.
^"Lt. Col. Sunith Francis Rodrigues (IC 6119), Artillery- VSM Citation in 'The Gazette of India No 36' Page 982". 2 September 1972. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
^"Shiv Raj Patil is 33rd Governor of Punjab". Punjab Newsline Network. 22 January 2010.
^"Former Army Chief Gen Rodrigues passes away". The Hindu. 4 March 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 February 1955. p. 45.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 May 1959. p. 109.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 19 March 1966. p. 175.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 August 1974. p. 905.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 1 April 1978. p. 295.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 14 July 1984. p. 1144.
^"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 March 1986. p. 363.
sunith, francis, rodrigues, general, pvsm, september, 1933, march, 2022, indian, army, officer, chief, army, staff, indian, army, from, 1990, 1993, governor, punjab, from, 2004, 2010, generalpvsm, vsm26th, governor, punjab, 13th, administrator, chandigarhin, o. General Sunith Francis Rodrigues PVSM VSM 19 September 1933 4 March 2022 was an Indian army officer who was Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army 2 3 from 1990 to 1993 and Governor of Punjab from 2004 to 2010 GeneralSunith Francis RodriguesPVSM VSM26th Governor of Punjab and 13th Administrator of ChandigarhIn office 16 November 2004 22 January 2010Appointed byPresident of India then A P J Abdul Kalam Chief MinisterParkash Singh BadalPreceded byAkhlaqur Rahman Kidwai Additional Charge Om Prakash VermaSucceeded byShivraj Patil32nd Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff CommitteeIn office 1 August 1991 30 June 1993PresidentR Venkataraman Shankar Dayal SharmaPrime MinisterP V Narasimha RaoPreceded bySurinder MehraSucceeded byLaxminarayan Ramdas15th Chief of the Army Staff India In office 1 July 1990 30 June 1993PresidentR Venkataraman Shankar Dayal SharmaPrime MinisterV P Singh Chandra Shekhar P V Narasimha RaoPreceded byVishwa Nath SharmaSucceeded byBipin Chandra JoshiPersonal detailsBorn 1933 09 19 19 September 1933Bombay Bombay Presidency British Raj now Mumbai Maharashtra India Died4 March 2022 2022 03 04 aged 88 Panaji Goa IndiaMilitary serviceAllegiance IndiaBranch service Indian ArmyYears of service1952 1993RankGeneralUnitRegiment of ArtilleryCommandsWestern Army Central ArmyDirector General Military Training DGMT Battles warsSino Indian War of 1962 Indo Pakistani War of 1965 Indo Pakistani War of 1971Service numberIC 6119 1 AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva MedalLater work s National Security Advisory Board Director of International Centre Goa Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military service 2 1 General officer 3 Public service 3 1 Governor of Punjab 4 Death 5 Military awards and decorations 6 Dates of rank 7 ReferencesEarly life and education editRodrigues was born in Bombay in 1933 He was educated at St Xavier s High School Fort in Bombay Military service editRodrigues joined the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Military Academy in 1949 and was commissioned on 28 December 1952 into the Regiment of Artillery 1 After serving in several field and self propelled artillery units he applied for pilot training in the air observation post of the Artillery in 1964 and qualified as an artillery aviation pilot Between 1964 and 1969 he logged more than 158 flying hours on observation aircraft and helicopters including 65 hours of combat flying during the 1965 war in which his unit logged on more than 56 precision artillery fire to effect on enemy formations He attended the Defence Services Staff College and took over as GSO II operations in XXXIII Corps HQ in 1971 In 1972 after the war with Pakistan he was awarded the VSM for distinguished service 4 He later served as a GSO I operations of a division from 1973 to 1975 As a Brigadier he commanded a mountain infantry brigade in a high altitude sector from 1975 to 1977 Post this Rodrigues attended the 1978 course at Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom He was Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981 General officer edit Rodrigues was then promoted to the rank of Major General and then took over the command of a division in a high altitude area In 1982 he was awarded the master s degree in Defence Studies He then served as the Chief of Staff of a Corps from 1983 to September 1985 after which he took over as Director General Military Training DGMT After promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General Rodrigues took command of a corps in the Northern Sector in 1986 He was Vice Chief of Army Staff from November 1987 to April 1989 and then General Officer Commanding in Chief of Central Command from April 1989 to October 1989 He then took over Western Command from 1 November 1989 to 30 June 1990 and was the Chief of Army Staff from 1990 to 1993 He retired on 30 June 1993 after nearly 41 years of service Public service editAfter his retirement Rodrigues was Director of the International Centre Goa for nearly six years He served two terms on the National Security Advisory Board Since his retirement he has been engaged in social and literary pursuits and has also delivered talks on strategic issues He takes a keen interest in education and empowering children to achieve their potential He was on the Executive Council of Goa University for seven years and on the Managing Committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce He is also a long standing Member of the Goa Planning Board and on the Board of Governors of the Goa Institute of Management Governor of Punjab edit Rodrigues was appointed Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on 8 November 2004 and he was sworn into office on 16 November 2004 He was succeeded by Shivraj Patil on 22 January 2010 5 Death editRodrigues died at the Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula on 4 March 2022 at the age of 88 6 Military awards and decorations edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Param Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal General Service Medal 1947 Samar Seva Star Poorvi Star Paschimi Star Raksha Medal Sangram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service MedalDates of rank editInsignia Rank Component Date of rank nbsp Second Lieutenant Indian Army 28 December 1952 1 nbsp Lieutenant Indian Army 28 December 1954 7 nbsp Captain Indian Army 28 December 1958 8 nbsp Major Indian Army 28 December 1965 9 nbsp Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 17 June 1973 10 nbsp Colonel Indian Army 1975 nbsp Brigadier Indian Army 2 September 1976 11 nbsp Major General Indian Army 8 April 1983 12 nbsp Lieutenant General Indian Army 20 September 1985 13 nbsp General COAS Indian Army 30 June 1990References edit a b c Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 11 July 1953 p 154 Ice Station Taurus Outlook India Magazine The Colonel Who Got Us Siachen 8 July 2010 Lt Col Sunith Francis Rodrigues IC 6119 Artillery VSM Citation in The Gazette of India No 36 Page 982 2 September 1972 Retrieved 17 October 2020 Shiv Raj Patil is 33rd Governor of Punjab Punjab Newsline Network 22 January 2010 Former Army Chief Gen Rodrigues passes away The Hindu 4 March 2022 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 4 March 2022 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 26 February 1955 p 45 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 9 May 1959 p 109 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 19 March 1966 p 175 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 10 August 1974 p 905 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 1 April 1978 p 295 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 14 July 1984 p 1144 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 22 March 1986 p 363 Military offices Preceded bySurinder Mehra Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee1 August 1991 30 June 1993 Succeeded byLaxminarayan Ramdas Preceded byVishwa Nath Sharma Chief of Army Staff1990 1993 Succeeded byBipin Chandra Joshi Preceded byJ K Puri Vice Chief of Army Staff1 November 1987 20 April 1989 Succeeded byV K Sood Preceded byV K Nayak General Officer Commanding in Chief Western Command1 November 1989 30 June 1990 Succeeded byG S Grewal Preceded bySami Khan General Officer Commanding in Chief Central Command1 April 1989 30 October 1989 Succeeded byF N Billimoria Government offices Preceded byAkhlaqur Rahman Kidwai Governor of Punjab2004 2010 Succeeded byShivraj Patil Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sunith Francis Rodrigues amp oldid 1182490359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
