Vice-Admiral Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982.

Agencies

NEW DELHI, March 23:

Eastern Naval command Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) Vice Admiral Karambir Singh will be the next chief of Indian Naval Staff.

He will be replacing current Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba as he retires on May 31.

In a tweet, the ministry of defence said, “Government appoints Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command as the next chief of naval staff vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, who vacates the office on 31 May 2019.”

Vice-Admiral Singh is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.

Vice-Admiral Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982.

He has extensive experience in flying the HAL Chetak and Kamov Ka-25 helicopters.

He has commanded numerous ships including ICGS Chand Bibi, INS Vijaydurg, INS Rana and INS Delhi.

He has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet; Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command; Chief of Staff, Andaman and Nicobar Command; Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat Area (FOMAG); Joint Director Naval Air Staff at Naval HQ; Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station, Mumbai.

His other appointments include a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board (AIRCATS); Director General Project Seabird, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

During his career spanning over 37 years, he has been awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Param Vishist Seva Medal (2018) for his service.