KOCHI: Rear Admiral G Ashok Kumar has assumed charge as the new Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi. He was serving as Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area in Mumbai prior to taking over as FOST.
He was, previously, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) from July 2011 to August 2012 as also the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, from August 2012 to August 2013.
A native of Pothenur, near Ponnani in Malappuram district, he was commissioned into the Navy in July 1982. He has held several important assignments - both afloat and ashore during his career so far. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravathi Nagar, and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has also attended the Army Higher Command Course, Mhow, as also the expeditionary operations course at Quantico, Virginia, USA.
A specialist in navigation and direction, he has served as navigating Officer of Indian Naval Ships Beas, Nilgiri, Ranvir and Vikrant. His Command tenures include Commanding Officer of INS Kulish and Ranvir, and Executive Officer on INS Brahmaputra. His important shore tenures include Staff officer (Ops/ND) of the Indian Naval Workup team, Head of Training Team (Navy) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Defence Adviser at the High Commission of India in Singapore. He has also been the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.