General VN Sharma belongs to a distinguished military family that has served the Armed Forces for two generations and produced three Generals. He is the younger brother of late Major Som Nath Sharma, PVC, who was awarded Independent India’s first posthumous Param Vir Chakra (PVC) on 3rd Nov 47 for the battle of Badgam in Kashmir .

General Sharma was educated at Sherwood College , Nainital and Prince of Wales’ Rashtriya Indian Military College , Dehradun. He joined the 5th Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy , Dehradun and was commissioned on 04 Jun 1950 into the 16 Light Cavalry. As a Major he saw action during the 1965 Indo-Pak War in the Lahore Sector. He commanded 66 Armoured Regiment and held important staff and instructional appointments.

On promotion to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded a Mountain Brigade in an insurgency affected area and was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 1977 for distinguished service. Later he commanded an Armoured Brigade in the Rajasthan desert.

In 1980, he was elevated to Major General and commanded a Mountain Division in the Western Sector. He was elevated to Lieutenant General and took over command of a Corps in the Western Sector in 1984 and was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for rendering distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

General Sharma took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, on 1st Jun 87. He was appointed Honorary Army ADC to the President on 25th Jul 87. General Sharma served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 30th Jun 88 to 30th Jun 90.