Senior IAS officer G. Mohan Kumar on Monday assumed charge as the defence secretary, succeeding R.K. Mathur, who retired from the office on Sunday.
A 1979-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Odisha cadre, Mohan Kumar holds a Master's degree in chemistry and an MBA from Britain.
He has worked in various ministries and departments, including Steel, Water Resources, Rural Development, Fisheries, Export Development and VAT Administration.
Mohan Kumar was the secretary, defence production, before he was made the defence secretary.