KOCHI (PTI): Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema on Thursday assumed charge of the Southern Naval Command as its Commander-in-Chief.

Prior to assuming charge, he laid wreath at the war memorial and took salute at the ceremonial parade at INS Garuda.

The Admiral, who was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1977, is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasala, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.

A specialist in missile and gunnery, he spent majority of his time on afloat and operational appointments. He has had the distinction of being the Commanding Officer of five frontline ships - the missile boat INS Nishank, Mauritian Coast Guard OPV Vigilant, the missile corvette INS Khanjar, the stealth frigate INS Trishul and the prestigious Aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

His appointments ashore include the Commandant of the Naval Academy and Commanding Officer INS Mandovi. He also has the unique distinction of winning both the Lentaigne (Best Dissertation) and Scudder Medals (First in overall order of merit) while undergoing course at DSSC.

The new appointment is a unique distinction being his third Command as a Commander-in-Chief since being promoted to C-in-C grade on August 31, 2012, a Navy press release said.

Prior to this, he has been the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, as also the Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command - a Tri-Services Command responsible for all nuclear forces of the country.