General S F Rodrigues is the former Governor of the Indian state Punjab, India. Rodrigues was sworn in to the office on November 16th, 2004. As the Governor of Punjab, General S F Rodrigues with his personality has managed to fetch the positive response from the people of Punjab. He has strongly campaigned for the interest of Punjab in India. For that the people of Punjab, conversely, acknowledged him as one of their own. The Punjabi Press (India) has also given a positive response towards him. His compatriots know General Rodrigues as a thinker and a strategist.

Early Life of General S F Rodrigues
Sunith Francis Rodrigues was born on 19th September 1933 in Mumbai, in a Christian family. He did his schoolings from St. Xaviers High School, Mumbai.

Military Services of General S F Rodrigues
In the year 1949, Rodrigues joined the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Military Academy and in December 1952, he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery. S F Rodrigues, a scholar of the Defence Services Staff College, from 1970 to 1971 commanded a Mountain Artillery Regiment. Rodrigues also served as a General Staff Officer for the period of the 1971 Indo-Pak War at a Corps HQ. In acknowledging his distinguished service during the Indo-Pak War, in the year 1972, Rodrigues was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).

Later from 1973 to 1975, General S F Rodrigues has served as a GSOI operations of a division. He commanded a mountain brigade in a high altitude sector during 1975 to 1977. In the year 1978, S F Rodrigues went to U.K to attend the course at Royal College of Defence Studies. From 1979 to November 1981, he served as the Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College. S F Rodrigues then took over the command of a division in a high altitude area. He was awarded the Master Degree in Defence Studies in the year 1982. After receiving the award he became the Chief of Staff of a Corps and held the post from 1983 to September 1985. He took over the Director General post of Military Training after then.

From November 1987 to April 1989, he has served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff and then from April 1989 to October 1989, served as the GOC-in-C of Central Command. Later he was appointed as the GOC-in-C Western Command and held the post from 01 November 1989 to 29 June 1990. From 1990 to 1993, he served, as the Chief of Army Staff. After putting in nearly 41 years of consecrated services, he retired on 30 June 1993. The Army started inducting women officers, during his tenure.

Other Services of General S F Rodrigues
After the retirement in Goa, for nearly 6 years, Rodrigues has served the post of the Director of the International Centre. On the National Security Advisory Board, he served two terms. Another side of his persona other than Military reveals that he has also been engaged in social and literary pursuits. General S F Rodrigues has also delivered his speeches on tactical issues. Rodrigues is keenly interested in education of the children and endlessly striving for the empowerment of those children to achieve their potential. For 7 years, he held a position in the Executive Council of University of Goa and also in the Managing Committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce. General S F Rodrigues is also a Member of the Goa Planning Board.

General S F Rodrigues as Governor
Rodrigues appointed the 32nd Governor of Punjab and also became Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, on November 8th 2004. Rodrigues was sworn in to the office on November 16th, 2004. After the end of his tenure, General S F Rodrigues was succeeded by Shivraj V Patil, on January 22nd 2010.

Personal Life of General S F Rodrigues
General S F Rodrigues is married to Jean Rodrigues and the couple has 2 sons and a daughter together.