Things You Must Know About The Next Indian Navy Chief

Defense aspirants who are preparing to join defense forces must know about the new Indian Navy Chief. Vice Admiral Karambir Singh will be the next Indian Navy chief, succeeding Admiral Sunil Lanba who will retire on 30 May 2019. The Indian government made the selection following a merit-based approach and did not opt the tradition of appointing the senior-most eligible officer to the post.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, is presently Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Eastern Naval Command and will be the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from the afternoon of May 31, 2019. The present Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba retires on the same day.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was born on November 03, 1959, he was commissioned on July 01, 1980 into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy. During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments.

He also served as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and was Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujrat area. Vice Admiral Singh’s Sea Command includes Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.

Before taking over as FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command in October 2017, he was Director-General Project Seabird, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is a graduated from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been decorated with the PVSM(ParamVishishtSeva Medal)and the AVSM ( AtiVishishtSeva Medal). He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982. He has extensive experience with the HAL Chetak, Kamov Ka-25, and Kamov Ka-28 helicopters.

The Admiral has commanded the Coast Guard ship ICGS Chand Bibi, the corvette INS Vijaydurg, and the guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, he 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 was also a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board (AIRCATS).

On promotion to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. His other important flag appointments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Unified Command at Andaman & Nicobar Islands and as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area (FOMAG). As the Director General of Project Seabird, he stewarded the development of the Navy’s new base at Karwar. He went on to do a tenure as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, following which he was appointed the Vice Chief of the navy.

He assumed the office of the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command on 31 October 2017, succeeding Vice Admiral Harish Bisht. On the 23rd of March, 2019, the Government of India named him Chief of Naval Staff, superseding Vice Admiral Bimal Verma. He will be the first helicopter pilot to help the Indian Navy.