Vice-Admiral R.K. Dhowan has assumed charge as Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff at the Integrated Headquarters succeeding Vice-Admiral D.K. Dewan, a Navy spokesman said here on Wednesday.
Vice-Admiral Dhowan has held key command and staff appointments, including operational command of missile corvette INS Khukri, guided missile destroyers INS Ranjit and INS Delhi and Flag Officer Commanding (Eastern Fleet).
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His staff assignments include Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at New Delhi; Commandant of the ‘National Defence Academy' at Khadakvasla; Indian Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, London; and the Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Western Naval Command, Mumbai.
A Navigation and Direction Specialist, Vice-Admiral ‘Robin' Dhowan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College and Naval War College, Rhode Island, U.S. He also excelled during his initial training winning the coveted ‘telescope' as Best Cadet and later the ‘Sword of Honour' during his Midshipman training.
The Navy also announced the retirement of Vice-Admiral Dewan as Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff after 38 years of service. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Pune, he was commissioned in 1973 and held several key appointments, including the Chief of Personnel, and Vice-Chief of Naval Staff between August 2009 and 2011.
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His tenure as the Vice-Chief was marked by special achievements such as ensuring cent per cent utilisation of naval budget in the last two fiscal years with over 80 per cent increase in capital expenditure. He was instrumental in promulgation of the 15-year Maritime Capability Perspective Plan 2012-2027.