Major General Rajendra Singh Yadav, VSM (Retd) is a President's Awardee from the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the coveted  Rajputana  Rifles  Regiment  of  Infantry. He superannuated on 31 Dec 2017 after 38 years of glorious service to the Nation and Indian Army.The General Officer has had an excellent and a unique academic track record. Starting with award of National Senior Science Talent Search Scholarship by NCERT in School, he topped in all Civil Academic courses up to M Sc and M Phil, and also stood First in all Army Courses. The General Officer commanded an Infantry Division, and served on all active borders with Pakistan and China, and even has rich operational experience of counter terrorist operations in J&K and North East. The General was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal by the President of India for his exceptional services during counter terrorist operations. The General also served as Defence Attache of India in Indian Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen, and has rich experience of military diplomacy and international relations. Post retirement, the General has been Vice Chancellor of a University. During this period he was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Confederation of Indian Universities & Association of International Educators for World Peace (a UN Affiliate) for contributions to higher education, didactical planning & administration and educational research & development. The General Officer is a keen Sportsman, and is also into a lot of Adventure Activities like Sky Diving, Scuba Diving, Para Sailing, Hot Air Ballooning and Bungee Jumping. A keen traveler and trekker, he has toured entire length and breadth of India many times over, and has already visited 31 countries. He is a prolific writer on strategic issues, and specializes in Net assessment, Scenario Building, Strategic Gaming, Geo-strategic Assessments and International Affairs. He has attended several international conferences abroad. International Affairs. He has attended several international conferences abroad.

Brig S S Sharma (Retd), Senior Research Fellow, is an ex NDA officer commissioned in the Corps of EME in Dec 1983. He is an alumnus of DSSC and HDMC. The officer specialises in A Vehicles. He has held important staff appointments like AMGO(P) at IHQ of MOD(Army) and CTO at ANC, Port Blair. He has also participated in UNIFIL(United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). The officer superannuated in Aug 2017 and has worked both in Corporate and Educational domains post retirement. He holds BTech(M) degree and certification in Executive Program in Business Management at MDI, Gurgaon.

Brig PP Singh, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Senior Research Fellow, iBrig Preet Pal Singh, AVSM, VSM, is a decorated Army veteran with 35 years of illustrious service in command, staff, instructional and policy-level roles. He has extensive expertise in strategic leadership, organizational transformation, capability development and defence indigenization, having served in key positions at Army Headquarters. Representing India at global peacekeeping forums and engaging with government, industry and international organizations, he has driven operational excellence and major change initiatives. A widely travelled and published writer on security, international relations and geopolitics, he has also trained officers across all career stages. Post-retirement, he serves as a Senior Research Fellow at a USI of India, contributing to strategic studies, scenario building, and red teaming exercises with military, government and private partners.

Scholars on Study Leave

Col Girish Chandra Godiyal, Senior Research Fellow, Colonel Girish Chandra Godiyal is a 2001 batch infantry officer, commissioned to and later commanded 18th Battalion The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy and has attended prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Defence Management, Secunderabad. The officer has a rich experience of serving in diverse operational environment to include counter-insurgency operations, Line of Control and along the Western Borders. His staff exposure includes tenure in MONUSCO, staff appointment in Brigade Headquarter in Jammu & Kashmir, Army Training Command and Army Headquarters. He has also been an instructor at Indian Military Academy and Army War College. He is currently pursuing the research fellowship from USI of India on the subject of ‘Complexities of Grey Zone Warfare and Implications for India’.

Col Mridul Kamal Gaind, SM, Senior Research Fellow, Col Mridul Kamal Gaind, SM was commisioned into 9th Battalion The Sikh Light Infantry in 2000. The officer passed out from National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is an alumni of DSSC Wellington and the Higher Command Course. The officer has varied military experience of serving in diverse operational environment. He commanded his own unit in high altitude, highly active area on the Line of Control. His staff exposure includes raising General Staff Officer of an Independent Infantry Brigade and a tenure at the Army Headquarters. He has been an Instructor at the Infantry School, Mhow and the prestigious DSSC, Wellington. He holds degrees in MSc and MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University and Punjabi University. He is currently pursuing a Research Fellowship on the topic ‘Manifestation of Disruptive Technologies of PLA Along Northern Borders: Countering Future Threats’.

Col Satish Kumar Tyagi, SM, Senior Research Fellow, Col Satish Kumar Tyagi is a 1999 batch officer passed out from IMA and commissioned in to Corps of Engineers in 105 Engr Regt. He has attended all the mandatory courses and held important command and staff appointments. The officer is a graduate from prestigious DSSC Wellington. The officer has served in J & K, North East and western borders. The officer has commanded 121 Engr Regt from 2016 to 2019 in eastern sector during Dokalam stand off and his regiment was actively involved in execution of important operational task. The officer also commanded a Counter Explosive Device Unit in Northern Command from 2019 to 2021. After his command the officer was posted to MI Dte. He is currently pursuing the Research fellowship from USI on a subject “New contours of strategic relationship between India and African nations and its impact on regional security”.

Cdr Saurav Mohanty Senior Research Fellow,Commander Saurav Mohanty was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 January 2002 after graduating from the Naval Academy, Goa. A specialist in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), he served as a Naval Aircrew Observer on Kamov helicopters, onboard frontline shipborne flights, and as Squadron Mine Counter Measure Officer on a Minesweeper. He has held operational appointments at major Naval Air Stations and was part of the commissioning crew of INS Vikramaditya, the Navy’s largest aircraft carrier. He later served as a Research Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), focusing on ports, commercial shipping, logistics, and the maritime energy transition. At USI, his research continues in these domains, with emphasis on alternative fuels, green propulsion, energy conservation in ports and shipyards, and efficiency in the maritime sector. He holds an M.Sc. in Underwater Sciences from CUSAT, a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business (EPGDIB) from IIFT, an Advanced Diploma in Shipping and Logistics from NMIS, Mumbai, and is presently pursuing a PG Diploma in Maritime Energy Management from the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden.