New Delhi: Admiral R.K. Dhowan, a navigation and direction specialist, was Thursday named the new chief of the Indian Navy.
He succeeds Admiral D.K. Joshi, who resigned in February following a string of accidents of submarines.
Commissioned in the navy Jan 1, 1975, Admiral Dhowan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College and Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, US.
The Admiral had also excelled during his initial training winning the coveted ‘telescope’ as Best Cadet and later the ‘Sword of Honour’ during his Midshipman training.
An official statement said he has commanded frontline warships INS Khukri, INS Ranjit and INS Delhi and served as Chief Staff Officer (Operations) Headquarters in the Western Naval Command.
He has also served as the Indian naval adviser at the Indian high commission in London.
He has commanded the Eastern Fleet as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam.
He also has the distinction of commanding the prestigious NDA.