Senior Naval Appointments Announced

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma will take over as the Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command from Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan who is to take over as Vice Chief of Naval Staff on completion of an illustrious tenure as C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command, it was today announced.

Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1970. A specialist in Communications and Electronics Warfare, he has served in various afloat and shore appointments during his 37-year career.

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

The Flag Officer is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, UK, and has 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 and has served as Senior Directing Staff (Navy) at the National Defence College, New Delhi.

Vice Admiral Verma 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 also 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 November 2005. Subsequently, he also held the appointment of Vice Chief of Naval Staff effective November 30, 2006.

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 administrative planning experience that would be crucial to shaping the Navy of tomorrow.

The Admiral is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala and was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1970.

He saw action early in his career as the Navigation Officer of INS Kavaratti which took active part in the Eastern Fleet operations off erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971.

A Specialist in Navigation and Direction and a graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Flag Officer has held various staff, instructional, operational and command appointments.

During his long and illustrious career, Vice Admiral Suthan has commanded five ships of different size and capabilities. His other important assignments at sea include that of the 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.

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.

Ashore, Vice Admiral Suthan's appointments include Chief Staff Officer (Training) in Southern Naval Command during 1991-92 and Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India, Singapore from 1993 to 1996.

The Flag Officer has been deeply associated with the personnel policies of the Navy, having held the appointments of the Director of Personnel, Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development) and Controller Personnel Services at Naval Headquarters for over four years.

He has had the unique distinction of being Chief of Staff of two Commands, Southern and Eastern Naval Commands, and hence had a wide range of administrative, training and operational experience. It was during his appointment as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command that the successful and highly acclaimed post-tsunami relief operations on the Eastern seaboard were undertaken.

Vice Admiral Suthan is a recipient of the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) for his highly distinguished service.

UNI DG SK DS1515