Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma takes over as Navy chief

Vice Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, who once commanded India's sole aircraft carrier INS Viraat, on Monday took over as the new Navy chief.

Vice Admiral Verma, who was till now the Eastern Naval Commander at Visakhapatnam, assumed responsibility as the head of world's fourth largest Navy from incumbent Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who retires from service.

Verma, who was born on November 14 in 1950, was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy on July 1, 1970 and during his long service spanning nearly 39 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments.

His sea command experience includes the Leander-class Frigate INS Udaigiri, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvir and the flagship aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

Before taking over as Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, he was the Navy vice chief and has been decorated with Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and honorary Aide de Camp of the President.

An alumnus of Royal Naval Staff College in United Kingdom and the US Naval War College, Verma has instructional experience at National Defence College as Senior Directing Staff and at Defence Services Staff College at Wellington. He has also commanded the Naval Academy at Goa.

Image: New Navy chief Admiral Nirma Kumar Verma

Photograph courtsey: Indian Navy, government of India