Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta, VSM, handed over the baton of Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area to Rear Admiral AN Pramod on 28 November 2022 at an elegant ceremonial parade held at INS Kunjali Parade ground.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1990, Rear Admiral Pramod is a qualified Naval Air Operations Officer and a Communication and Electronic Warfare Specialist. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Naval Academy, Goa, the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College, Goa. He also commanded IN ships Abhay, Shardul and Satpura, and the Naval Air Station, INS Utkrosh. He was the Fleet Operations Officer, Western Fleet, and tenanted the appointments of Deputy Commandant, INA and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air).
Rear Adm Sandeep Mehta proceeds to Naval Headquarters, New Delhi as the Assistant Chief of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition.
In an impressive ceremony, Rear Admiral KP Arvindan, VSM took over charge as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard, Mumbai from Rear Admiral B Sivakumar, VSM on 14 January 2022.
Rear Admiral KP Arvindan, an alumnus of Naval College of Engineering, INS Shivaji, Lonavla, is from the first batch of the Naval Engineering Course and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 1987. The Admiral holds a B-Tech degree in Marine Engineering and a M-Tech degree in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, Mumbai.
In a career spanning over 34 years of service, the Admiral served in various capacities, including at command headquarters, training establishments, the marine gas turbine overhaul centre, INS Eksila, and Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. He has served onboard a Petya class patrol vessel, the missile corvette Kirpan and guided missile destroyers Rajput and Ranjit. His recent appointments include being the Commanding Officer of the premier training establishment, INS Shivaji, and Commodore (Fleet Maintenance), an assignment he handled for a period of four years, handling issues related to maintenance and repair support for the aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya, and the submarine fleet of the Indian Navy.
On promotion to the flag rank, the officer was appointed as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ship Repair Yard, Karwar. A recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Admiral was serving as Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at Headquarters, Western Naval Command, prior to taking over the present assignment.
Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, VSM assumed charge as Director General, Project Seabird/ IHQ MoD (Navy) from Vice Admiral Puneet K Bahl, AVSM, VSM on 24 Dec 21.
Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti was Commanding Eastern Fleet prior assuming his present appointment and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1988. He is an alumnus of the 72nd Course, National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and was awarded the President’s Gold Medal on passing out. He was the recipient of the ‘Binoculars’ during Sea Cadet Training, Sword of Honour during Midshipmen training and Adm RD Katari Trophy for standing first during Sub Lt Courses. The Flag Officer is a Navigation and Direction specialist, where he stood first in the Course and was adjudged the Best All-round Trainee.
He has undergone the Command and Staff Course from France during 2002-2003 and the Naval Higher Command Course in 2009-2010, where he has awarded the CNS Gold Medal for Best Op Paper.
His afloat appointments include Navigating Officer of INS Kirpan, commissioning Navigating Officer of INS Mysore, Direction Officer, INS Viraat and Executive Officer, INS Delhi. The Flag Officer has commanded INS Nishank, INS Kora and was the commissioning CO of INS Kolkata.
His other important staff appointments include Instructor, Project-15 Training Team, Joint Director of Staff Requirements and Joint Director of Personnel at Naval Headquarters and Captain Work Up at Local Workup Team (East), the Naval Attaché at the Embassy of India, Moscow Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy, accompanied by Mrs. Linda Gilday and a high-level US delegation, visited Headquarters, Western Naval Command (HQWNC) at Mumbai on 15 Oct 21 and interacted with Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and his staff. Among issues discussed during the interaction were avenues to strengthen the growing cooperation between the two nations and navies, deal with challenges emerging on the maritime front and enhance collaboration and interoperability to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The CNO was provided a broad overview of regional security dynamics and the operational responses of the Western Naval Command in recent times, particularly those related to delivering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to friendly foreign countries, conducting counter piracy operations, enhancing maritime safety and security in the region, and strengthening foreign cooperation, with special emphasis on Indo-US co-operation. The crucial role played by IN ships through Operation Samudra Setu II in bringing home containerised medical oxygen to mitigate shortfalls in the country and strengthen its battle against COVID-19 was also highlighted.
The CNO addressed officers of the Western Naval Command, Southern Naval Command and various training establishments of the Indian Navy through video conference on the ‘Future of Warfare’. He also visited the Mazagon Dock Limited.
Mrs Linda Gilday visited HQWNC and interacted with women officers of the Indian Navy.
The CNO’s visit was an important event in the continued and regular dialogue between India and the US to cement and strengthen their comprehensive global strategic partnership further.
Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, NM has taken charge as the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India from Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar, AVSM, NM who superannuated on 30 Sep 21.
Vice Admiral Adhir Arora was commissioned in the Executive branch of the Indian Navy in 1985. As a specialist Hydrographer, he has undertaken hydrographic surveys in and across India and Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Whilst in command of INS Sutlej, the ship was the first to arrive off Galle Port in Sri Lanka for Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief operations post Tsunami in 2004. He also has the rare distinction of undertaking foreign co-operation surveys in Mauritius, Seychelles and Kenya whilst in command of INS Sarvekshak. These include high sensitive marine ecological areas, continental shelf and pioneer surveys. He was also the co-chair for the 3rdIndo – Mauritius hydrographic cooperation meeting in 2008.
During his staff appointment, he was been responsible for maritime boundaries aspects including representing India in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Hague, Netherlands during the arbitration with Bangladesh. He also steered the ship building project of new construction ships with state of art systems. He is a graduate of NDA, Khadakvasla and alumni of DSSC, Wellington. During his Naval Higher Command Course he was also awarded the M.Phil from Mumbai University. He has authored various professional papers and has been taking keen interest in evolving scenario on maritime boundary issues.
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