Sayan Chatterjee, New Delhi, Nov 30th, 2021: Closer to the Navy Day on 4th Dec, 2021, Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC assumed command of the Indian Navy, today on 30 November 2021, as the 25th Chief of the Naval Staff.
The new Naval chief succeeds Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC who retires upon superannuation, after an illustrious career, spanning over forty-one years, in the Indian Navy.
Admiral. R Hari Kumar, is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 January 1983. In his career spanning over 38 years, he has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, IN Ships Nishank, Kora, Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat.
A Gunnery specialist, he has held several key appointments, including Fleet Operations Officer (FOO) and Fleet Gunnery Officer (FGO) of Western Fleet, Executive Officer (EXO) of INS Vipul, Gunnery Officer of INS Ranjit, commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and commissioning crew of INS Ranvir.
Coming to his shore appointments they include Command Gunnery Officer at HQWNC, Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles, UN Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) at Mogadishu and Training Commander, INS Dronacharya.
As a Flag Officer, he has served as Commandant of the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF), Chief of Staff (COS), Western Naval Command (WNC), Controller Personnel Services (CPS) and Chief of Personnel (COP) at Naval Headquarters.
He has also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to The Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) at the critical junction during the creation of the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA). He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), WNC at Mumbai, prior taking over the helm as the Chief of the Naval Staff today.
The author is a Delhi-based, DCC qualified, defence beat writer and independent contributor to print and online publications
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