Mumbai: Inspector General Bhisham Sharma assumed charge as the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West) at Mumbai on 23 Nov 2023.
The Flag Officer joined the Indian Coast Guard in Jan 1990 and is an alumnus of Indian Naval Academy where he was adjudged the Best Trainee Assistant Commandant. He earned his coveted flying wings at the Indian Naval Helicopter Training School (HTS) in 1995. An accomplished Helicopter pilot, the Flag officer has served in all the frontline helicopter squadrons of the Coast Guard on both the Western and Eastern Seaboards including the Ship Borne Flight at A and N Islands. He has successfully undertaken numerous rescue and relief operations including SAR of 06 personnel reported adrift in Andaman Sea in Mar 2001.
The Flag Officer possesses rich operational experience and is the only CG Aviator who holds the distinction of having commanded all four classes of ships in the Coast Guard i.e. Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) ICGS Chandbibi, Extra Fast Patrol Vessel (XFPV) ICGS Kasturba Gandhi as the commissioning CO, new generation Offshore Patrol Vessel(OPV) ICGS Vijit and the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) ICGS Sagar. Before his elevation to the Flag Rank, he was commanding the Coast Guard Air Station at Chennai.
The Flag Officer’s notable ashore appointments include Chief Staff Officer (P and A) at Regional Headquarters(West) Mumbai, Chief Staff Officer(Operations) at Regional Headquarters(East) Chennai and District Commander, Coast Guard District Maharashtra, Mumbai. Flag officer served as Coast Guard Advisor (CGA) to the Director General Indian Coast Guard, and has also tenanted the appointment of Director (Infra and Works) and Principal Director (Air Staff) and Deputy Director General (Aviation), at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
Prior assuming command of Western Region as COMCG(W), The Flag Officer has held the appointment as COMCG(A and N), Wherein he focussed on seamless integration of Ops within the overall mandate of ANC and spearheaded the infrastructure growth of CG in the strategically significant Andaman and Nicobar Island.
The Flag Officer is a graduate of prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and recipient of Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service). He has also been commended by the Director General, Indian Coast Guard on two occasions. He is an avid cyclist and has been promoting cycling amongst the Coast Guard fraternity.
The Flag Officer is married to Anju Sharma (Home Maker) and has two sons Sankalp and Sukkrit.
