Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, SM, DG & Col Commandant, Army Air Defence, during a visit to the First To Strike Brigade in July 2025.
PANAJI
Son of the soil Lt General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, currently serving as the Director General and Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Defence (AAD), has been honoured for his exemplary and distinguished service during Operation Sindoor. The honour reflects his strong leadership, operational efficiency, and devotion to duty. Lt Gen D’Cunha has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), one of India’s highest peacetime military decorations, given for exceptional devotion to duty.
Lt Gen D’Cunha took charge as Director General and Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Defence (AAD) on November 1, 2023. His military career began in December 1988, when he was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence after graduating from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He holds an MSc in Radars and Metallurgy, an MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies, and a PhD in Management. His career includes international assignments and several awards for distinguished service.
With roots in Curtorim in South Goa, Lt Gen D’Cunha’s life has been guided by values of discipline, resilience, and community. These values have played a key role throughout his military journey. Rising to the highest ranks of the Indian Army, he reflects the strong contribution made by Goans to India’s defence services. His achievements are a matter of pride for Goa and highlight the State’s quiet but respected tradition of national service.
Military family
As Director General of Army Air Defence, Lt Gen D’Cunha is responsible for protecting Indian airspace from aerial threats such as missiles, aircraft, and drones. He comes from a well-known military family in Goa. His father, late Major General Ivan D’Cunha, served in the Regiment of Artillery’s Air Defence Artillery Regiment and fought in the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars. He passed away in 2019. His brother, Sanjay D’Cunha, is a Commodore in the Indian Navy and is involved in safeguarding India’s coastline. Lt Gen D’Cunha’s mother, Gemma D’Cunha, a writer, takes pride in both her sons continuing the family tradition by serving the nation and accepting the demands of military life. Lt Gen D’Cunha’s wife, Farah, is the daughter of Major General Eustace Fernandez, who was martyred in Kashmir in 1994, just days before he was to assume his promotion as Lieutenant General.
Accomplishments
Lt Gen D’Cunha has also been awarded the Sena Medal. In early 2026, he reviewed operational readiness across several formations, including the First Strike Brigade (I Corps). He remains an important voice in India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative. He strongly supports the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and indigenous technology in the armed forces. His focus includes the induction of Low-Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR) and smart ammunition to counter emerging drone threats.
Leadership in Op Sindoor
Lt Gen D’Cunha is widely recognised for his leadership during Operation Sindoor (2025), a precision military operation launched by India in response to terror attacks in Pahalgam. Under his guidance, the Army Air Defence successfully intercepted and neutralised several Pakistani drone and missile counter-attacks.
