Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as WNC's chief of staff | India News - Times of India

Source: The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, on May 25 assumed charge as the chief of staff, Western Naval Command, according to a announcement made by the Indian Navy.

He is an alumnus of the national defense academy Khadakwasla, the defense service staff college, Wellington, naval war college, Mumbai and royal college of defense Studies, United Kingdom.

A missile and gunnery specialist, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1988.In a career spanning over 35 years, the officer has held a number of specialist, staff and operational appointments, both afloat and ashore.

He has the rare distinction of commanding five front line warships of the Indian Navy in different ranks. He commanded INS Nashak and INS Vibhuti in the rank of Lieutenant Commander and INS Kirpan in the rank of Commander. In the rank of captain, he commanded INS Vikramaditya and was the commissioning commanding officer of INS Trikand.

His staff appointments include joint director at directorate of naval plans, director at directorate of staff requirements and as principal director at directorate of strategy concepts and transformation.

On promotion to Flag rank, the officer took over duties of assistant controller carrier projects and assistant controller warship production and acquisition, wherein he steered multiple ship building projects. He was thereafter appointed as the Flag officer commanding Western Fleet. Prior to assuming his present appointment, he was Commandant, National defense academy, Khadakwasla.

The TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most."