Senior most Submariner of Navy Calls it a day Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC, the 12th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) & Indian Navys senior most submariner has retired from service leaving behind a legacy and some milestones in his illustrious career spanning four decades. He handed over the reins of ANC to Vice Admiral Bimal Verma AVSM on 29 Feb 2016. Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee, an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun and the National Defence Academy, Pune was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1977. The Flag Officer has commanded ships as well as submarines, notable among them being the Type 1500 submarines and Guided Missile Destroyer INS Rajput. During his career he held numerous senior Staff and Command appointments which include Commodore Commanding Submarines (West), Principal Director Submarine Operations and Principal Director Submarine Acquisition at Naval Headquarters. As a Flag Officer he has held the prestigious appointments of Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM), Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area (FOMAG), Inspector General Nuclear Safety (IGNS) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS) at Naval Headquarters. In his long and illustrious career, the Flag Officer has also walked through the portals of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the National Defence College, New Delhi. During his tenure as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command, which he assumed on 01 Jun 2014, he has set benchmarks which will now guide the next generation of leaders to emulate. Under his stewardship some notable achievements are; being the first responder with relief materials to Visakhapatnam, Eastern Naval Command, during cyclone Hud Hud, induction of two additional Mi 17V5 helicopters, Unmanned Arial Vehicle Operations from Port Blair & Carnic as also the maiden OTR of INS Chakra (Nuclear Powered Submarine). His efforts also resulted in night landings at Port Blair and revalidation of numerous Operating procedures at the Andaman Nicobar Command. His thrust area of infrastructure & accretions resulted in basing of Fast Interceptor Crafts in outlying Islands & construction of Operational Shelters at Kamorta, Neil & Hut Bay. One of his visionary implementation was the placing of eyes & ears" along the west coast of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands which has resulted in increased surveillance and monitoring of uninhabited Islands and locations. Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Nau Sena Medal (Gallantry) and has been recently appointed as honourary ADC to the President of India. Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee is married to Mrs Sharmistha Chatterjee (Rubu) who grew up in Kolkata. They have two daughters Priyankhee and Prathistha. Now with time on his side the Admiral can immerse himself in Golf, painting and music, all of which are his passion. Mrs Sharmistha Chatterjee who has been managing their home for the last 35 years as his better half now plans to keep up with her interests in music, gardening and visiting various parts of the country and the world. The general populace of the Islands wish them all the luck and a happy second innings. Wg Cdr AB Vaz, Offg Comd PRO
