KOCHI: Vice Admiral AR Karve has been appointed as the new Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Kochi-headquartered Southern Naval Command (FOC-in-C, South). The Officer who is presently the Chief of Personnel at IHQ MoD (Navy), at Delhi is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1980.
He is an anti-submarine warfare specialist, who has held several important operational and staff appointments both at sea as well as ashore during his 35 years of distinguished service, which includes the command of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat and the guided missile destroyer INS Ranvijay. He has also been the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Information Warfare & Operations).
The Officer is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, Ooty and has completed the Naval Higher Command Course from College of Naval Warfare at Mumbai. He is also a post graduate in National Security and Strategy from the National Defence University, Washington DC (USA). The officer has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on 26 Jan 13 for his distinguished service.
Meanwhile, the present Flag officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, has been appointed as The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The handing over ceremony will be held on 29 May 16.