Article Posted on : - Aug 31, 2012

New Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi inspects guard of honour during the taking over ceremony in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, on Friday took over as the new Navy chief, promising to ensure that there are no gaps in the security preparedness of the force.

58-year-old Joshi succeeds Admiral Nirmal Verma who retired on Friday. Admiral Joshi will have three-year tenure.

Soon after taking over as the 21st Navy Chief, Joshi said, "I am in gratitude for having been given the honour and privileged opportunity to command the Navy."

Listing his priorities, he said, it would be his endeavour to fulfil Navy's mandate as a maritime power for national prosperity.

"24x7 attention would need to be paid at all levels to ensure that there are no gaps in our security preparedness," he stressed.

He emphasised that "Navy would need to professionally re-audit, train and consolidate its preparedness to optimise the existing capabilities as well as harness the full potential of the transformational new capabilities being inducted."

Joshi, who was the Western Naval Commander, has taken over the force at a time when it is set to operate two aircraft carriers and induct a large number of warships, long- range surveillance aircraft and submarines.

He has commanded the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Island Command and also headed the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters here. He also commanded the Vizag-based Eastern Fleet.

Commissioned in 1974, Joshi has commanded aircraft carrier INS Viraat, guided-missile destroyer Ranvir and corvette INS Kuthar.

A graduate of the Naval War College, USA, he is an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College, New Delhi.