Port Blair Oct 25: Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands today. On arrival at Campbell Bay, the Admiral interacted with troops and was updated on the operational and infrastructure aspects of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). An Alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai, the Admiral was commissioned in the Indian Navy in Jul 1980. Born to an IAF officer in Jalandhar, Punjab, he is a second generation military officer. The Admiral has commanded the Coast Guard ship ICGS Chand Bibi, the Corvette INS Vijaydurg and guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi. He served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff and as Captain Air as also Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air station at Mumbai. He was also a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorization Board (AIRCATS). Other distinguished appointments held by the Admiral include, Chief of Staff Eastern Naval Command, Chief of Staff of Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area. He went on to serve as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command before he was appointed as CNS. In his distinguished Defence career spanning 39 years, he has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal. He is the first helicopter pilot to be appointed as Chief of the Indian Navy.
