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{{short description|Indian naval officer}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| name = J. C. De Silva
| honorific suffix = [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|9|18|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2019|11|20|1943|09|18}}
| birth_place =
| death_place = [[Goa]], [[India]]
| placeofburial = Holy Family Church, [[Porvorim]], [[Goa]], [[India]]
| image = File:VAdm_JC_De_Silva.jpg
| caption =
| nickname = Johnny D
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|India}} {{coast guard|India}}
| serviceyears = 1965–2003
| rank = [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-8.svg|23px]] [[File:13-Indian_Navy-VADM.svg|23px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| commands = [[Eastern Naval Command]] [[Indian Coast Guard]] [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] {{ship|INS|Ranvijay|D55}} {{ship|INS|Vijaydurg|K71}} {{ship|INS|Sindhudurg|K72}}
| unit =
| battles =
| awards = [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}

[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] '''John Colin De Silva''', [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]] (18 September 1943 – 20 November 2019) was a flag officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He last served as the [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] (VCNS) from 2001 to 2002. He also served as the 11th [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]], which he led from 1999 to 2001. He was the commissioning commanding officer of the [[Rajput-class destroyer|Rajput-class]] [[guided-missile destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Ranvijay|D55}}. After retiring from the Navy, he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Overseas Employment Agency, an agency set up by the [[Government of Goa]].

==Early life and education==
De Silva was born on 18 September 1943. He completed his education in [[Belgaum]], attending the [[St. Paul's School, Belgaum]] and R. L. Science Institute.<ref>{{cite web |title=Notable Alumni – St. Paul's High School (Belgaum) |url=http://www.sphs.edu.in/alumni/notable-alumni/ |website=St. Paul's High School}}</ref> He entered the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] in July 1960.<ref name="DIP, Goa obit">{{cite web |title=COMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS CONDOLES DEATH OF VICE ADMIRAL JOHN C. DE SILVA |url=https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/COMMISSIONER-FOR-NRI-AFFAIRS-CONDOLES-DEATH-OF-VICE-ADMIRAL-JOHN-C.-DE-SILVA.pdf |website=goa.gov.in |date=22 November 2019}}</ref>

== Naval career ==
=== Early career ===
De Silva was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1965. After a few sea tenures, he opted to specialise in gunnery and attended the Long G course. After the completion of the course, he was posted as the Gunnery Officer of the [[Leopard-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Beas|F137}}. He served on board the ship during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. ''Beas'' was commanded by Commander [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]] and was part of the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]]. The ship was part of the force that bombarded [[Chittagong]] and participated in the landings at [[Cox's Bazar]]. He subsequently served as the gunnery officer of the first Indian built ship - the lead ship of the [[Nilgiri-class frigate (1972)|Nilgiri-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Nilgiri|F33}}.<ref name="QD 2020">{{cite journal |last1=O'Leary |first1=Alan |title=REMEMBERING JOHNNY D |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2020 |url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/desa/sites/default/files/repository-document/Quarterdeck%202020.pdf}}</ref> He was then selected to attend the [[Royal Military College of Science]], [[Shrivenham]].<ref name="QD 2020" /> He subsequently commanded the [[Durg-class corvette]]s {{ship|INS|Vijaydurg|K71}} and {{ship|INS|Sindhudurg|K72}}.<ref name="PIB - Retirement"/>

In 1982, the Warship Workup Organisation (WWO) was to be set up in Mumbai. The organisation was aimed at executing the systematic work-up of ships. The organisation and other such workup teams which were set up later in Vizag and Cochin were amalgamated to form the [[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|Flag Officer Sea Training]] in 1992.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010|p=299}} De Silva was chosen to head the WWO in Mumbai in the rank of [[Commander]]. The commissioning crew consisted on 4 other officers and 5 sailors.<ref name="PIB - Retirement">{{cite web |title=PIB Press Releases |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/releases98/lyr2003/rsep2003/30092003/r3009200311.html |website=archive.pib.gov.in}}</ref> As the head of the WWO, he was instrumental in creating the first set of tasks and schedules for the work-up of ships. The first ship that the WWO worked on was a [[Rajput-class destroyer]].<ref name="QD 2017">{{cite journal |last1=De Silva |first1=John Colin |title=REMEMBERING REAR ADMIRAL VS CHAUDHARI – |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2017 |url=https://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/doc/Quarterdeck-2017.pdf}}</ref> In 1984, he was selected to attend the [[Naval War College]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]].<ref name="VCNS">{{cite web |title=NEW VICE CHIEFS FOR NAVY, AIR FORCE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-NOV%20DEC-DEFENCE-IV/PDF/DEF-2001-12-26_131.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=26 December 2001}}</ref>

In 1987, the fifth and last ship of the Rajput-class destroyers was commissioned as {{ship|INS|Ranvijay|D55}}. De Silva was appointed the [[ship commissioning|commissioning]] [[commanding officer]] of the ship. ''Ranvijay'' was commissioned on 21 December 1987 at [[Poti]] in the USSR. He led the ship in the sea trials off Poti and brought her home to India in March 1988.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2005}} In 1997, the ship was affiliated with the [[Dogra Regiment]] of the [[Indian Army]].{{sfn|Prasad|2008|p=236}} Subsequently, De Silva served as the Director Naval Intelligence (DNI) at Naval headquarters.<ref name="VCNS"/>

=== Flag rank ===
In 1992, De Silva was promoted to the acting rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|rear admiral]] and appointed Assistant Chief of Personnel - Human Resource Development (ACOP HRD). This appointment was that of an assistant Principal Staff Officer at Naval HQ. On 26 January 1993, he was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]].<ref name="AVSM">{{cite web |title=GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1993-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1993-01-24_021.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=24 January 1993}}</ref> He subsequently took over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Information Warfare and Operations (ACNS IW&O), also at Naval HQ. In 1995, he was appointed the next [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]] (FOCWF).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=John F. |title=After Decades of Wariness, Forces of U.S. and India Begin to Cooperate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/11/world/after-decades-of-wariness-forces-of-us-and-india-begin-to-cooperate.html |website=The New York Times |date=11 June 1995}}</ref> He took command of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] from Rear Admiral R. N. Ganesh on 28 April 1995. After a year-long stint as FOCWF, he relinquished command, handing over to Rear Admiral Madanjit Singh.<ref>{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL MADANJIT SINGH TAKES OVER AS CHIEF OF PERSONNEL |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-AUG-OCT-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-2001-10-05_157.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 October 2001}}</ref>

In 1997, he was promoted to the rank of [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] and appointed Controller Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A) at Naval HQ. After a short stint, in March 1998, he took over the personnel branch at NHQ as the [[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]] (COP). He served as COP for a year, until March 1999.<ref name="DGICG" />

=== DGICG ===
The [[Indian Coast Guard]] (ICG) came into being on 19 August 1978. The new service was to function under the overall command and control of a Director General (DGICG).<ref>{{cite web|title=COAST GUARD TO BE FORMED IN AUGUST|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1978-APR-AUG-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-PART-2/PDF/DEF-1978-06-29_121.pdf|website=pibarchive.nic.in|date=29 June 1978}}</ref> On 5 March 1999, Schunker took over as the 11th [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]] (DGICG), succeeding Vice Admiral R. N. Ganesh.<ref name="DGICG">{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL DESILVA TAKES OVER AS NEW DG COAST GUARD |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1999-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1999-03-05_125.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 March 1999}}</ref> Under him, the coast guard helped capture a pirated Japanese vessel ''MV Alondra Rainbow'' in the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kumar |first1=Admiral Sushil |title=When Indian Navy helped catch Japan's stolen ship – and what Vajpayee did |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/when-indian-navy-helped-catch-japans-stolen-ship-and-what-vajpayee-did/294520/ |website=ThePrint |date=21 September 2019}}</ref> The pirates were captured and convicted in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feb 26 |first1=TNN / |title=14 hijackers of Japanese ship convicted {{!}} Mumbai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/14-hijackers-of-japanese-ship-convicted/articleshow/38606802.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> During this tenure, he was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] on 26 January 2001.<ref name="PVSM">{{cite web |title=GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-JAN-MARCH-DEFENCE-I/PDF/DEF-2001-01-25_066.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=25 January 2001}}</ref>

===C-in-C===
After a two-year stint as DGICG, De Silva was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Eastern Naval Command]]. He assumed command from Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha on 31 March 2001.<ref name="FOC-in-C East">{{cite web |title=rediff.com: Changes in naval set-up |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2001/mar/01navy.htm |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> It was to be a short tenure, as on 1 January 2002, he moved to NHQ as the [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] succeeding Vice Admiral [[Madhvendra Singh]] who took over as the 17th [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref name="VCNS" />

== Post-retirement ==
De Silva retired after 38 years of service on 30 September 2003.<ref name="PIB - Retirement"/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031001/nation.htm |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> After his retirement, De Silva and his wife Meena settled down in Goa. He resided in the Defence Colony in [[Porvorim]] in North Goa.<ref name="QD 2020" /> In February 2007, the [[Government of Goa]] decided to set up an Overseas Employment Agency to act as a facilitator to scout jobs abroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Goa govt constitutes OEAG |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/goa-govt-constitutes-oeag/articleshow/1717953.cms?from=mdr |website=The Economic Times}}</ref> De Silva was appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Overseas Employment Agency of Goa on honorary basis.<ref name="DIP, Goa obit" /> He continued to served as the Chairman until his demise on 20 November 2019.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/former-vice-chief-of-naval-staff-passes-away-at-96-7132809/lite/ Former Vice-Chief of Naval Staff passes away at 96]</ref>

De Silva was laid to rest with military honours at the Holy Family Church in Porvorim. Former Chiefs of Naval Staff attended the funeral - [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]]s Madhvendra Singh, who delivered the eulogy, [[Arun Prakash]] and [[Sureesh Mehta]]. Several retired and serving flag officers of the Navy and the Coast Guard were also present to pay their respects.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Silva laid to rest |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/m/details.php?n_id=154137 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/arunp2810/status/1199261676794765312 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Poorvi_Star_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Paschimi_Star_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND_Videsh_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|-
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_30_Years_Long_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Poorvi Star]]
|[[Paschimi Star]]
|-
|[[Raksha Medal]]
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|[[Videsh Seva Medal]]
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Long_service_awards|50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|-
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Long_service_awards|25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Long_service_awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Long_service_awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Long_service_awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951–65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}
*{{citation|first1=G M|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to eminence : the Indian navy 1976-1990|year=2005|isbn=978-8170622666|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=G M|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to guardianship : the Indian navy 1991-2000|year=2010|isbn=978-1935501268|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=Shankar|last1=Prasad|title=The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment|year=2008|isbn=978-8170622680|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=R. N. Ganesh}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]|years=1994-1995}}
{{s-aft|after=Madan Jit Singh}}
{{s-bef|before=P. J. Jacob}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]]|years=1998–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Arun Prakash]]}}
{{S-bef|before=R. N. Ganesh}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]]|years=1999–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=Rameshwar Singh}}
{{S-bef|before=Vinod Pasricha}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]]|years=2001–2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Raman Puri}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Madhvendra Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]]|years=2002–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Arun Prakash]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Silva, John Colin}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Vice Chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Directors General of the Indian Coast Guard]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Personnel (India)]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Naval War College alumni]]

John Colin De Silva - Revision history

Bot at 23:53, 4 August 2022