Devendra Kumar Joshi takes over as new Navy chief

Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, on Friday took over as the new Navy chief.

Joshi, 58, succeeds Admiral Nirmal Verma who retired today. Admiral Joshi will have a three-year tenure.

Soon after taking over as the 21st Navy chief, Joshi said, "I am in gratitude for having been given the honour and privileged opportunity to command the Navy."

Listing his priorities, he said it would be his endeavour to fulfill the Navy's mandate as a maritime power for national prosperity.

"24x7 attention would need to be paid at all levels to ensure that there are no gaps in our security preparedness," he stressed.

He emphasised that "Navy would need to professionally re-audit, train and consolidate its preparedness to optimise the existing capabilities as well as harness the full potential of the transformational new capabilities being inducted."

Joshi, who was the Western Naval Commander, has taken over the force at a time when it is set to operate two aircraft carriers and induct a large number of warships, long-range surveillance aircraft and submarines.

He has commanded the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Island Command and also headed the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters. He also commanded the Vizag-based Eastern Fleet.

Commissioned in 1974, Joshi has commanded aircraft carrier INS Viraat, guided-missile destroyer Ranvir and corvette INS Kuthar.

A graduate of the Naval War College, USA, he is an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College in Delhi.

He is married to Chitra Joshi and the couple has two daughters.