was born in a military family in October 1944. An alumnus of NDA, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1966. Trained as a naval aviator, he served on India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he served with the No. 20 Squadron IAF and was awarded the Vir Chakra for leading airstrikes deep into enemy territory. He has commanded INS Chatak, the naval squadron INAS 300, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Viraat and the naval air station INS Hansa in Goa. After promotion to Flag rank, his notable appointments include Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Commandant NDA, Chief of Personnel at Naval HQ and Commanderin-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command. He subsequently had stints as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff before taking over as the Chief of the Naval Staff from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.
