Author Cmde Srikant Kesnur (Retd) served in the Indian Navy for 36 years, with a career spanning maritime operations, training, leadership, diplomacy and naval history. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he commanded two frontline warships, INS Vindhyagiri and INS Jalashwa, and served as Defence Adviser at the High Commission of India in Nairobi. He has held faculty appointments at the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and Naval War College. A PhD holder with five postgraduate degrees, he has led the writing and editing of numerous books, monographs and naval journals. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 for distinguished service. Since retiring in 2022, he has championed maritime awareness through research, writing, teaching, public lectures and media.