Cmde Rajeev Sawhney (Retd), Deputy Director Research,   retired from the Indian Navy on 31 Mar 2009 after over 35 years of service. A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla he specialised in Navigation and Aircraft Direction and held a number of specialist assignments both afloat and ashore. He also held a number of training assignments, including at the National Defence Academy, Midshipmens Training Ship, the Navy’s Navigation & Direction School, and the Warship Workup Organisation. He also did a tenure as a Directing Staff at DSSC, Wellington, India from 1990 to 1992.

 He held four commands during his service including that of the first indigenous Delhi class destroyer INS Delhi, two indigenous Leander class Frigates and a minesweeper. His other important appointments include Fleet Operations Officer, Eastern Fleet from 1995-96, Director of Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters from 1997 – 2000 and Deputy Asst Chief of Integrated Staff (DACIDS) Maritime Weapons and Systems at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff from 2002 - 2005.

 An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College Wellington(1986-87) and the College of Defence Management(1994-95) he attended the 41st National Security Studies Programme at the National Defence College Course in 2001. He is an MSc(Def Studies) and Master of Management Sciences. He has also undergone the six month Executive Business Management Programme for Armed Forces Officers at the MDI Gurgaon in 2008.

Cmde R Sawhney is presently the Deputy Director Research and Head of the Centre for Strategic Studies & Simulation at the USI since June 2009. He was earlier at the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, as its first Executive Director from Feb 2005 to Mar 2008. His research interests include National Security, International Relations and Maritime Affairs and he writes regularly on these subjects. He was a visiting senior fellow at the IDSS Singapore between Mar and Jun 2006.