Article Posted on : - Jun 08, 2009

Vice Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam. A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Vice Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, who once commanded India's sole aircraft carrier INS Viraat, was named as the next Navy chief.

Vice Admiral Verma, who is at present the Eastern Naval Commander at Visakhapatnam, will take over from incumbent Admiral Sureesh Mehta on August 31 when the latter retires from service, the government announced here on Saturday.

Verma, who was born on November 14 in 1950, was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy on July 1, 1970 and during his long service spanning nearly 39 years, the Navy chief-designate has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments.

His sea command experience includes the Leander-class Frigate INS Udaigiri, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvir and the flagship aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

Before taking over as Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, he was the Navy vice chief and has been decorated with Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and honorary Aide de Camp of the President.

An alumnus of Royal Naval Staff College in United Kingdom and the US Naval War College, Verma has instructional experience at National Defence College as Senior Directing Staff and at Defence Services Staff College at Wellington. He has also commanded the Naval Academy at Goa.