Lt Gen VG Khandare was the Principal Adviser at the Ministry of Defence since Mar 2022 til 16 May 25. He was the Military Adviser at NSCS for three years till 12 Oct 2021. He was Director General Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff handling tri services Intelligence, till 31 Jan 2018.
He has been in the Govt going through the terrorist attacks at Pathankot, Uri, Nagrota, Sanjuwan , Pulwama and Pahalgam and the response of hard hitting surgical strikes on the West and the East, Balakote air strike and the classic Op Sindoor.
He served the nation as an Army officer for nearly four decades. He has a vast experience in handling military affairs and has been involved in advising the apex level on decision making based on analysis and assessments impacting national interests. As a Security expert he continues to serve by finding solutions to existing and anticipated future problems .
He has first hand experience on Northern Siachen Glacier in 1988, these were the initial years which saw intense fights between India and Pak to gain control over the icy height while logistics were a huge challenge. He was actively involved in countering terrorism in the hinterland of J&K and in North East India.
He enhanced synergy between technical and human intelligence at tactical, operational and Strategic level. He is an expert in capability and capacity enhancement including Atma Nirbhar mission and he has promoted Defence Diplomacy by his relentless initiatives.
He is an avid thinker in Conflict Prevention, Management and Termination as also in technology search and incorporation.
The President of India awarded him for his distinguished service the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and for gallantry the Sena Medal. In addition he is also a recipient of the Army Chiefs Commendation Card and the Army Commanders Commendation Card.
Currently he is Distinguished Fellow at USI New Delhi and Emeritus Research Faculty with Rashtriya Raksha University Gandhinagar. He is committed to shaping the youth as the national Human Resource capital for the present and future. He is working on ancient and mediaeval period wisdom lessons derived from history for the military and non military way forward in nation building.
In 2024, He was awarded Life time Achievement Award by his school at Indore. Closely following that he was awarded D Litt by Ajinkya DY Patil University at Pune.
He actively lectures and writes on security issues and national development.
