Col Vinod George (Retd)

M-Tech (Power Systems), IIT Mumbai

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Corps of Engineers, Indian Army

Served in MES & Border Roads

Ex COO and Director, Adani Dredging

Ex Director, Dharti Dredging & Tebma Shipyards

Total Work Experience - 50 years

National Champion in Rowing

Services Level Squash Player

How did your journey from the National Defence Academy to the Corps of Engineers shape your early career?

Having studied in a Sainik School, which groomed students for a military life, the primary aim then was to make a career in the Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA). This was back in 1968, when entrance to the NDA was highly competitive and people looked up to a Services Officer with a lot of pride and respect. I got selected with a national ranking of 4th in the overall order of merit, and joined NDA as an Army Cadet.

The 3 years you spend at this Academy are always one of the most memorable experiences and topics for future conversations. NDA training and grooming was tough, especially with the intensive physical ragging that prevailed then. An Army Cadet after 3 years had to undergo 1 year of further training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun before being commissioned. I passed out overall 3rd in the order of merit, bagging a few medals and joined the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army.