India to get new Navy chief
S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @infodeaofficialVice Admiral Karambir Singh will be the next Chief of Naval Staff. Sources from the Defence Ministry say that he will take charge from the current chief of Navy Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba who is to achieve superannuation on 31 May this year.
Karambir Singh would be the first helicopter pilot of Indian Navy to be appointed as chief of Navy Staff. He is a native of Jalandhar, Punjab and did his initial studies in various schools across the country, wherever his father, who was in the Indian Airforce, was posted. He finally graduated from Barnes School, Deolali Maharashtra before joining National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980, Vice Admiral Karambir earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982 and has flown extensively on the Chetak and Kamov helicopters in support of fleet Operations.
He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and has later served as Directing Staff in both these Institutions.
In his career spanning over 39 years, the admiral has commanded Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg as well as two Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.
He has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, the Admiral has served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff, and as Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station at Mumbai.
He has also served as a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board (AIRCATS). On promotion to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as Chief of Staff at Eastern Naval Command.
His other important flag appointments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area (FOMAG).
In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has been the Director General Project Seabird, in-charge of infrastructure development of the Navy’s modern base at Karwar. He was also assigned higher responsibilities as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at IHQ MoD(Navy) and as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, since 31 October 2017.
The Admiral is a recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medial (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) from the President of India.
