Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson

Graduating from the National Defence College, in New Delhi in 1973, Admiral Dawson has to his credit 19 years of sea service which included important sea commands of the INS Talwar and INS Nilgiri. He served as the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, from February 1978 to March 1979. His important shore appointments include INS Circars - the Commanding Officer of the Boys' Training Establishment and the Director of Naval Operations (DNO) at Naval HQ during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan Conflict, for which he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

As the General Manager, Goa Shipyard Limited, Admiral Dawson introduced a Corporate Development Plan for the Shipyard and also brought about progressive management practices which improved the relationship between the workers and management. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service of exceptional order on Republic Day 1981. He served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command before assuming the office of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

During the latter half of his tenure as CNS, Admiral Dawson was also Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). He retired from the Navy on 30 November 1984, after 41+ years of glorious naval service. He was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand in August 1985 and returned to Bangalore in September 1987, on completion of his tenure there.