Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Takes Charge As Navy’s 48th Vice Chief

NEW DELHI, May 29: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, who played a key role in maintaining the Indian Navy’s combat readiness during Operation Sindoor, assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff on Friday.

Before taking over as the Navy’s second-in-command, Vice Admiral Kochhar served as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, India’s only integrated tri-services theatre command.

Earlier, as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, he led the Navy’s forward deployment of strategic assets during Operation Sindoor and supervised high-tempo naval operations in the western maritime theatre.

He succeeds Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, who has been appointed the next chief of the Western Naval Command.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988, Vice Admiral Kochhar is a specialist in gunnery and missile systems and has over 37 years of service experience. He has commanded several warships, including Nashak, Vibhuti and Kirpan, and was the commissioning commanding officer of frigate Trikand. He also commanded aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and oversaw the integration and operationalisation of its air wing.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, he is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Naval War College, Goa, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK.

After promotion to Flag rank in 2018, he held key appointments including assistant controller of Carrier Projects and assistant controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. He later commanded the Western Fleet and also served as Commandant of the National Defence Academy.

The Navy said that during his tenure as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, he effectively handled conventional and non-traditional threats along the western seaboard.

Vice Admiral Kochhar was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026 for distinguished service. (Agencies)