Vice Admiral K B Singh was today appointed as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, days ahead of the retirement of current Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan and his deputy Vice Admiral P Murugesan.
In a series of changes carried out by the force at the top level, Chief of Personnel (CoP) Vice Admiral A R Karve has been appointed as FOC-in-C of the South Naval Command. Vice Admiral A K Chawla, DG, Naval Operation has been appointed as the new CoP, Navy officials said.
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, has been made Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. Vice Admiral K B Singh is currently the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, they said.
Both Dhowan and Murugesan are scheduled to retire on May 31. Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba will be the new Navy chief.
(Reopens DES 57)
A report from Kochi quoting Navy said Karve succeeds Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, who has been appointed as The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.
The handing over ceremony will be held on May 29.
Karve is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1980.
He is ananti-submarine warfare specialist, who has held several important operational and staff appointments both at sea as well as ashore during his 35 years of distinguished service, which includes the command of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat and the guided missile destroyer INS Ranvijay.
He has also been the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Information Warfare and Operations), the Navy said.
The Officer is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, Ooty,and has completed the Naval Higher Command Course from College of Naval Warfare at Mumbai.
He is also a post graduate in National Security and Strategy from the National Defence University, Washington DC (USA).
He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2013 for his distinguished service.
