New Delhi, May 30: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar has assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, bringing to the position more than three decades of operational, command and strategic experience, including his recent tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Following the assumption of office on May 29, the Flag Officer paid tribute to military personnel who laid down their lives in service of the nation by placing a floral wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Vice Admiral Kochhar’s appointment comes after a distinguished naval career spanning over 37 years. Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988, after graduating from the National Defence Academy, Pune, he specialised in Gunnery and Missile Systems and went on to hold a wide range of operational, command and staff assignments across the Navy.
During his service, he commanded several frontline naval platforms, including Indian Naval Ships Nashak, Vibhuti and Kirpan. He also served as the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the frigate INS Trikand. Among his notable appointments was the command of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, during which the carrier completed the integration and operationalisation of its air wing.
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Naval War College, Goa, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, Vice Admiral Kochhar also held several key policy and planning assignments at Naval Headquarters. These included appointments as Joint Director, Naval Plans; Director, Staff Requirements; and Principal Director DSCT.
After promotion to Flag Rank in 2018, he served as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. In 2021, he took command of the Western Fleet, one of the Navy’s principal operational formations, before later serving as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, where he contributed to the enhancement of training standards and institutional infrastructure.
On May 25, 2024, he assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command during a period marked by complex security challenges in the Western Maritime Theatre. He subsequently led the Command’s response to both conventional and non-traditional threats along the western seaboard and played a key role in high-tempo naval operations conducted under Operation Sindoor.
For distinguished service, Vice Admiral Kochhar was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.
Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, where he played a significant role in enhancing operational coordination, strengthening jointness among the three armed services and advancing integrated military functioning in India’s only tri-service command.
His appointment places a former Andaman and Nicobar Command chief at the second-highest professional position in the Indian Navy at a time of evolving maritime and regional security priorities.
