M A I N   N E W S

U’khand hails DK Joshi as next Naval Chief
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 5
The appointment of Vice Admiral DK Joshi, who will be the next Navy Chief, has been welcomed by residents of Uttarakhand state. A native of Almora district of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Vice-Admiral DK Joshi will be the first Naval Chief from Almora.

The government has appointed Vice Admiral DK Joshi, presently Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command, as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from August 31. The present Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral NK Verma will retire on August 31.

There are reports of celebrations from Almora district where he belongs. His family hails from Dwalaghat village in Hawlbagh block of Almora.

Born on July 04, 1954, Vice Admiral Joshi had his schooling from Almora and Nainital where his father Hira Ballabh Joshi served as Chief Conservator of Forests. He is a passout of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned on April 01, 1974 in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy.

“It is heartening that Vice-Admiral DK Joshi has made it to the top in Indian Navy. It is a matter of pride for the entire Uttarakhand as he will be the first Naval officer from Uttarakhand to become its chief. It is particularly a proud moment for residents of Almora that after former Army Gen BK Joshi, who also hailed from Almora, the city has given the Naval chief to the country,” said Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retd).

During his service spanning nearly 38 years, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. Vice Admiral Joshi’s Sea Command includes Guided Missile Corvette Kuthar, Guided Missile destroyer Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier Viraat. Before taking over as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command, he served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Commander-in-Chief of A&N Command (CINCAN) and the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).

His wife’s name is Chitra and they have two daughters. Vice Admiral Joshi is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, USA, an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi. He was Defence Adviser in the Indian High Commission at Singapore from 1996 to 1999.

Vice Admiral Joshi has been decorated with the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM), Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Nau Sena Medal (NM) and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM). He is one of the Honorary ADCs of the Supreme Commander.