Virendra Vats

Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, YSM, SM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

Lieutenant General Virendra Vats YSM, SM, VSM
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Army
Years of service	December 1988 – present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	19 Kumaon Regiment
Commands held	19 Infantry Division 82 Mountain Brigade 19 Kumaon
Awards	Yudh Seva Medal Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
Spouse(s)	Namita Vats

Early life and education

Vats attended the National Defence Academy, as part of the 73rd course. He then was part of the 83rd course of the Indian Military Academy.^[1]

Military career

Vats was commissioned into the 19th battalion, The Kumaon Regiment (19 Kumaon) in December 1988. Early in his career, he served as an instructor at the Infantry School. He subsequently attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. After completing the course, he was appointed Brigade major of a mountain brigade.^[2]

In the rank of Colonel, Vats served as the Assistant Military Secretary in the MS branch. He then commanded his battalion, 19 Kumaon, in Operation Rhino in the North East. The battalion was awarded a unit citation by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor on Army Day 2008.^[3] For his command of 19 Kumaon, he was awarded the Sena Medal (distinguished) on 26 January 2008.^[4][5]

After his command tenure, he moved to Army headquarters as the Director, Military Training. He subsequently attended the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad. After the course, he was appointed Defence attaché (DA) to the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command.^[1] He then served as the Director in the Military Operations directorate at Army HQ. For his tenure in the MO directorate, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal as part of the Republic Day honours in 2014.^[6][7]

Promoted to the rank of Brigadier, Vats commanded the 82 Mountain Brigade, deployed along the Line of actual control in eastern Arunachal Pradesh.^[8] The brigade also was part of Operation Rhino. As part of the United Nations, he served as a military observer in the Stabilization mission in the Congo. He subsequently commanded the North Kivu brigade, in the same mission.^[9] After his return to India, Vats was selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 57th course. He was subsequently appointed Brigadier General Staff (Concepts) at the headquarters of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC). He then moved to Army headquarters as the Brigadier Military Secretary (A) - his second tenure in the MS branch.

General officer

Vats was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed General officer commanding 19 Infantry Division (Dagger Division) in Baramulla on the line of control in the Kashmir valley.^[10][11] For his tenure as GOC Dagger Division, he was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal on 26 January 2022.^[12][13] In late 2021, he moved to the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Training and Doctrine) (ACIDS Trg & Doc).

On 1 September 2022, Vats was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College.^[1][14]

Personal life

Vats is married to Namita Vats, a human resources professional. The couple has a son Aryan.^[1]

Awards and decorations

Vats was awarded the Sena Medal in 2008, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014, and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2022. He has also been awarded the Chief of the Army Staff's Commendation card and the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command Commendation Card.

Yudh Seva Medal	Sena Medal		Vishisht Seva Medal
Wound Medal	Special Service Medal	Operation Vijay Medal	Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	75th Independence Anniversary Medal	50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal	MONUSCO Medal

References

1. "LT GEN VIRENDRA VATS, YSM, SM, VSM". dssc.gov.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
2. Staff Reporter (1 September 2022). "New Commandant takes charge at DSSC Wellington". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
3. "War widows honoured". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
4. "Republic Day gallantry and other Defence decorations". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
5. "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
6. "368 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
7. "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
8. "Indian and Chinese troops interact on Republic Day". The Economic Times. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
9. "ADGPI - Indian Army". Indian Army. 4 July 2016.
10. "It's the Same Area Where 2016 Suicide Attack At Uri Garrison Took Place Indian Army On Infiltration Bid". www.india.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
11. "Army inaugurates school in Baramulla". Rising Kashmir. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
12. "President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
13. "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
14. "CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (CDS), GENERAL ANIL CHAUHAN VISITS DEFENCE SERVICES STAFF COLLEGE, WELLINGTON". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 23 February 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by S. Mohan	Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College 2022 - present	Incumbent