Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral, NM (Retd) is the Director (Administration) at the USI of India. He is an alumnus of the 69th Course, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on 01 January 1987. As a non-specialist, he held the appointment of Navigating Officer, INS Cheetah, and participated in Op Pawan, the Indian Peace Keeping Mission in Sri Lanka.
In 1993, he specialised in Communication and Electronic Warfare at the Signal School, Kochi, where he topped the course. Thereafter, he held the appointment of Signal Communications Officer of INS Khanjar and was subsequently deputed to the United Kingdom as commissioning Signal Communications Officer of INS Krishna.
His other important afloat appointments include Executive Officer of the missile corvette INS Nashak and of the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi. His commands include those of the missile corvettes INS Nishank and INS Karmuk, and the guided missile frigate INS Trishul.
Ashore, he has served as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and as Officer-in-Charge of the Signal School, and has carried out the duties of Deputy Director Naval Signals (Plans), Director Naval Operations, and Principal Director Network and Space Operations.
He has undergone the Joint Staff Course at the Collège interarmées de défense, France, in 2000-01, and the Higher Command Course at the Naval War College, Mumbai, in 2007-08.
On promotion to Flag Rank, he held the appointment of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communications, Space and Net-Centric Operations) at Naval Headquarters. During this period, he was a key member of the Ministry of Defence team negotiating COMCASA and BECA with the US Government in 2018-20. During the critical period of the Pulwama terrorist attack and the subsequent Indian Air Force strikes on terror camps in Balakot on 27 February 2019, the Flag Officer was officiating as Director General Naval Operations and coordinated operational planning with the other two Services.
Subsequently, he held the appointments of Chief of Staff at Headquarters Andaman and Nicobar Command and Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Financial Planning and Administration) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
Prior to retirement, the Flag Officer underwent the Independent Director’s Programme at the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai, in October 2023. After a glorious service of more than 37 years, he superannuated on 31 January 2024 and is currently settled in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
He is also the Director, USI CUNHS.