INDIA GOT A NEW NAVY CHIEF TODAY : RK DHOWAN

INDIA GOT A NEW NAVY CHIEF TODAY : RK DHOWAN

Robin K Dhowan today took over as chief of the Indian Navy nearly two months after D K Joshi quit the post in the wake of a series of mishaps.

Admiral Dhowan, 59, who has been the acting Navy chief since Joshi's exit, has been appointed the Chief of Navy Staff superseding Western Naval Commander Shekhar Sinha.He will have a tenure of 25 months, retiring in May 2016.

Dhowan, who is the 22nd Navy chief, has taken over the reins of the force at a time when it is grappling with mishaps involving its warships and other assets.

Dhowan, who had been the Vice Chief of the force since August 2011, was supposed to superannuate on May 31, this year.

Defence Minister A K Antony had recommended the name of Dhowan, who was in contention for the top job along with Western Naval Commander Sinha and Eastern Commander Anil Chopra.

Though he has not headed any operational command, Dhowan has held various key positions and staff appointments during his career.

His command appointments include missile corvette INS Khukri, guided missile destroyers INS Ranjit and INS Delhi and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF).

The Admiral's staff assignments include key posts like Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at the headquarters in New Delhi,

Commandant of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, Indian Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, London and Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at Headquarters of Western Naval Command.

A navigation and direction specialist, Dhowan is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA.