Great honor and privilege to takeover Indian Navy: Admiral R.K. Dhowan

Admiral RK Dhowan, who was appointed as the new as the Chief of the Naval Staff, on Thursday said it is an honor for him to be appointed as new CSA and added that it is the responsibility of the navy to protect India's maritime interest.

"I think it is a great honor and a proud privilege for me to takeover the helm of one of the finest navies of the world. India is essentially maritime nation with vast maritime interests and the responsibility of protecting these assets falls squarely on the shoulders of the men in white uniform because it is responsibility of the Navy to ensure that India's maritime interest, which has a vital relationship with nations of economic growth, are allowed to developed both in peace and war," said Admiral R.K. Dhowan.

"To meet the maritime challenges, we need a strong, formidable and multi dimensional navy, which can take on an entire spectrum of operations in the maritime domain. The future of the Indian navy has been based on self reliance and indigenization. And currently we have over 45 ships and submarines under construction," Admiral Dhowan added.

"It will be our endeavor to hone the skills of our officers and men which are among the finest in the world to ensure that they are professional competent to man our ships, submarines and aircrafts and take the navy on to greater heights of glory. It will be my endeavor to pull on the holes together while keeping a hand on the tiller to ensure that we run an efficient, a taut and a happy Indian navy," he said.

On the recent events of mishaps, the new Navy chief said, " The aim is to ensure that we train our personnel on to high professional standards so that we can run and operate our ships, submarines and aircrafts to take the challenges that we have in the maritime domain."

He also said that the navy is a highly professional service and it has a standard operating procedures and safety procedures laid down so as to avoid any accidents.

"What the Navy has to ensure is that we have effective safety audits in place and strict procedures which we must follow," he said.

"The priorities areas, firstly, is to ensure that as a fighting force, the navy is combat ready at all times. Secondly, to ensure that our men, officer and civilian personnel, are adequately trained professionally so that they can do their job. We need ensure that we have a good leadership system in place," he added.

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.