SENIOR NAVAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

New Delhi, Phalgun 29, 1829

Mar 19, 2006, 2008

 

 

1.            Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma will take aver as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command from Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan, who  in turn will take over as Vice Chief of Naval Staff on completion of an illustrious tenure as C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command. The Eastern seaboard has gained prominence in the recent past and this is witnessed by the increasing engagement with immediate regional neighbours like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and other states of South East Asia.            

 

2.            Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1970. 'An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he is a specialist in Communication and Electronics Welfare. During his career spanning over 37 'years he has served in various afloat and shore appointments.

 

3.            As a Communications specialist, he has served as the Fleet    Communication Officer of the Westem Fleet, and at the Directorate of Naval Signals. His command tenures include INS Udaygiri (Leander Class Frigate), INS Ranvlr (Destroyer), and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat. He has also commanded the Indian Naval Academy, INS Mandovi.

 

4.            The Flag Officer is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, UK, and thereafter served as the Head of the Training Team at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He is also a graduate of the US Naval War College, after which he has served as Senior Directing Staff (Navy) at the National Defence College, New DeIhi.

 

5.            He has been the Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command and the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. The Flag Officer later served at Naval Headquarters as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans). On being promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, he was appointed Chief of Personnel in Nov 2005. He took over as Vice Chief of Naval Staff on 30 Nov 06.

 

6.            Vice Admiral Suthan, who was earlier the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and at present is the C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command, brings with him excellent operational training and admin planning experience that would be crucial to shaping the Navy of tomorrow.

 

7.            The Admiral was born on 14 Aug 1949. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1970.He saw action early in life as the Navigating Officer of INS Kavaratti, which took active part in the Eastern Fleet operations off erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971. After specialization in Navigation and Direction, he has held various staff, instructional, operational and command appointments. The Flag Officer is a graduate of the prestigious Defence services Staff College, Wellington. During his long and illustrious career, Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan has commanded five ships of different size and capabilities. His other important assignments at sea include Fleet navigation Officer of Eastern Fleet. As Flag Officer, he has been Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, one of the two sword arms of the Navy.