Admiral RK Dhowan takes over as new Navy chief

The government replaced former head who resigned in February owning moral responsibility for a series of accidents

The government on Thursday appointed Admiral RK Dhowan as the Chief of the Naval Staff replacing the former head who resigned in February owning moral responsibility for a series of accidents.

Admiral RK Dhowan joined the Navy on January 1st 1975. Dhowan's exemplary career spans 40 years and he has served with distinction in an array of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He is also a Navigation and Direction specialist.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

Dhowan has commanded frontline warships INS Khukri, INS Ranjit, INS Delhi and served as Chief Staff Officer (Operations) Headquarters Western Naval Command. He has also served as Indian Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, London.

He has commanded the Eastern Fleet as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam. He also has the distinction of commanding the prestigious 'National Defence Academy', his alma mater as the Commandant.

The important staff appointments held by the Admiral at Naval Headquarters are Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and plans), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of Naval Staff.