V Adm Sureesh Mehta to be Next Naval Chief

New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta will be the next Chief of the Indian Navy, it was today announced.

Admiral Mehta will take over as the next Chief of the Naval Staff from Admiral Arun Prakash, who retires on October 31 next.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1995, Vice Adm Mehta has earlier served as Flag Officer Goa Area, Assistant Controller Carrier Projects and Assistant Chief of Personnel.

He commanded the Western Fleet -- the 'sword arm' of the Indian Navy -- during 'Operation Parakram'.

In the rank of Vice Admiral, his prestigious appointments include the Chief of Personnel, DG Coast Guard and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. He is currently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.

Adm Mehta assumed command of the premier Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy on September 30 last year. During his tenure, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has been involved in numerous operational missions in the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia. Also, the first ever President's Fleet Review on the Eastern Sea Board was held in February last which saw the participation of over 66 ships and 50 aircraft of the combined Indian Naval Fleet.

Adm Mehta, born on August 18, 1947, is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1967.

He is an aviator of the 'old mould', having joined the Fleet Air Arm early and has extensively operated from the first Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant flying conventional jets -- the Sea Hawk aircraft.

The Flag Officer is a graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

His earlier important afloat and ashore appointments include the command of the frigates INS Beas and INS Godavari as also the premier Naval Air Station INS Garuda.

Adm Mehta was awarded the 'Ati Vishist Seva Medal' in 1995 and 'Param Vishist Seva Medal' in 2005 for exceptionally meritorious services.

UNI DG MSJ GC1906