Additional Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM has served the organisation in various assignments over the past three and a half decades and is presently appointed as the Additional Director General Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.

The flag officer is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi. The flag officer is a qualified helicopter pilot and holds a Master’s Degree in Defence & Strategic Studies from the University of Madras. He has also undergone specialization in Search and Rescue and port operations with US Coast Guard.

The flag officer has held several key appointments afloat and ashore, prominent among them are Commander Coast Guard Region (North West) at Gandhi Nagar, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) at Mumbai, Deputy Director General (HRD), Deputy Director General (P&P) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi and Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) at Visakhapatnam. The flag officer has also commanded all class of ships namely Inshore Patrol Vessel ‘Ranijindan’, Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Vigraha' and Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sarang'.

The flag officer also served various appointments viz, Principal Director (HRD), Principal Director (Policy & Plans) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, Chief of Staff at Headquarters, Coast Guard Region (North West), Chief Staff Officer (Operations) and Chief Staff Officer (Personnel & Administration) at Headquarters Coast Guard Region (West), Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Air Station at Chennai, Director (Personnel) and Joint Director (Aviation) at Coast Guard Headquarters and also as Squadron Commander of 848 Sqn at Chennai.

The flag officer is also recipient of President’s Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished service, Tatrakshak Medal for gallantry and Director General Indian Coast Guard Commendation.

The flag officer is married to Mrs Neela Pathania daughter of Shri Gagan Singh Katoch who hails from Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh and has a son Mr. Akshit Singh Pathania.