A native of Neyyoor (Nagercoil), he joined the Indian Navy and was commissioned in 1961. He ceased to use his surname of Isaacs[1] because it caused confusion with his brother, who shares the same initials and is also a naval officer.[2]
He was an alumni of The Bishop's School, Pune
Kumar was promoted to substantive rear admiral on 6 July 1990.[7]
Kumar held operational commands and important posts such as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), Commander of the Flotilla in Mumbai and Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN). He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command in Kochi, before being appointed the Chief of Naval Staff. Sushil Kumar assumed charge of the Indian Navy, as the 16th Chief of Naval Staff, on 30 December 1998. During his tenure as CNS, He was the highest-decorated serving officer in the Indian Navy, and he retired on 29 December 2001. He was a keen yachtsman and played polo on the international circuit, for which he had an international rating of 4+ goals.[4]
Death
Kumar died on 27 November 2019 at the Indian Army Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi at the age of 79. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences upon this.[8][9]
Awards and decorations
Kumar (2nd from left) with former chiefs and Admiral Robin K. Dhowan at the Conclave of Chiefs, 2015
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