Chennai, Sept 4:
Lieutenant General Ullas Kirbekar has assumed charge as the new Commander of the Indian Army’s Southern Command.
Lt Gen Kirbekar began his tenure by paying floral tributes at the Victory War Memorial in Chennai.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Signals Corps in December 1989. He has completed courses at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the National Defence College.
He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from IIT-Kanpur and a Master’s degree in Information Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in the US.
During his career, Lt Gen Kirbekar has held several key appointments, including in the Eastern Command, Ladakh and Army Headquarters. He has also served as an instructor at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
He was awarded the Sena Medal in January 2023 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2025.
As Southern Army Commander, he will oversee operational, logistical and administrative responsibilities, besides welfare-related matters concerning veterans. He will also work to strengthen the Army’s engagement with civil authorities, youth and the public and oversee initiatives connected with the region’s growing defence industry.