New Navy chief to take charge today

New Delhi: Vice Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, will take over as the new Navy Chief succeeding Admiral Nirmal Verma who retires on Friday.

58-year-old Joshi, who is at present the Western naval Commander, is taking over the force at a time when it is set to operate two aircraft carriers and induct a large number of warships, long-range surveillance aircraft and submarines. He will have a three-year tenure.

Vice Admiral Joshi has commanded the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Island command and also headed the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters here. He also commanded the Vizag-based Eastern Fleet of the Navy.
 
Commissioned in 1974, the Vice Admiral has commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, guided-missile destroyer Ranvir and corvette INS Kuthar.

A graduate of the Naval War College, USA, he is an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College here.