KOCHI: Vice-Admiral Pradeep Chauhan will assume office as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala on Monday. Admiral Chauhan was serving as the Chief of Staff of Western Naval Command since August 2009.
A second generation Naval officer and an alumnus of Campion School, Mumbai, and the National Defence Academy, Admiral Chauhan underwent his early naval training aboard INS Delhi and INS Tir, emerging as the Best Cadet and First in the Order of Merit as a Midshipman.
A specialist in navigation and direction, he has a glorious seagoing career culminating in the command of aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Admiral Chauhan was also a member of the team for ‘Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.’ During his shore tenure he served as the head of the Naval Training Team at Defence Services Staff College and as principal director of Naval Operations at the Naval Headquarters.
Admiral Chauhan was appointed as the first Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence (ACNS FCI) of the Navy to aggregate and focus on the international role of the Navy. A captivating orator, Admiral Chauhan revamped the Navy’s media relations organisation to catch up with the explosive growth of Indian media.
The Admiral has been honoured with Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).