NEW DELHI: Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil on Monday took over as assistant chief of naval staff (air).
An alumnus of the Lawrence School, Lovedale and the National Defence Academy, Pynumootil was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 1, 1986.
A rotary wing pilot, he has served in several key operational and staff posts including commanding naval air stations and guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra. He has participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Prior to taking over his current appointment, he was principal director, aircraft acquisition at the naval headquarters.
He has done the staff course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Higher Air Command Course at the College of Air Warfare, Hyderabad. A post graduate in defence studies and international relations, he has also done an M.Phil in strategic studies.