Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Major General Iqbal Singh Singha of India

 

to Head United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Major General Iqbal Singh Singha of India as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

Major General Singha succeeds Major General Natalio C. Ecarma of the Philippines, who will complete his assignment on 13 August 2012.  The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Ecarma for his dedication and effective leadership of UNDOF over the past two-and-a-half years.

Bringing extensive command experience and knowledge of peacekeeping attained through national and international service, Major General Singha’s position prior to his new appointment was General Officer Commanding Infantry Division, a post he held since 2010.  Between 2009 and 2010, he served as Brigadier General Staff Operations, and from 2007 to 2009, he was President of the Army Standing Establishment Committee.  He was Colonel General Staff Sub-Conventional Operations at the Army Training Command from 2005 to 2006, and held the appointment of Colonel General Staff of an armoured division in the Indian Army.  From 2003 to 2005, he served as Chief Logistics Officer with the United Nations Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Major General Singha holds master’s degrees in defence and strategic studies from Madras University, and in defence studies and management from Devi Ahilya Vidya Peeth, Indore, in India.  He also graduated from the National Defence Academy at Pune, and the Army War College at Mhow, in India.

Born in India in 1956, he is married and has two sons.

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