Ajit Kumar Doval is a retired IPS officer. He is a former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer. Since 30 May 2014, is the 5th and current National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister. After spending a decade as the head of its operations wing, in 2004–05, he had served as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. In January 2005, Doval retired as Director, Intelligence Bureau. He wrote editorial pieces for several leading newspapers and journals. He also delivered lectures on India's security challenges. He has delivered guest lectures on strategic issues at IISS, London, Washington DC, Capitol Hill, University of Melbourne, Australia-India Institute, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie and National Defence College, New Delhi. Doval has won many awards like Police Medal, the President's Police Medal and the highest gallantry awards, the Kirti Chakra. Doval is widely credited for resolving Doklam Standoff through diplomatic channels and negotiations. Doval, in October 2018, was appointed as the Chairman of the Strategic Policy Group (SPG). Early life: He was born in 1945 in Ghiri Banelsyun village in Pauri Garhwal, in Uttarakhand. In 1967, from the University of Agra, he graduated with a master's degree in economics.