Armed Forces Senior Appointments & Officers

Ankit Desai · Post by **Ankit Desai** » 30 Dec 2009 00:37

Air Commodore Devendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday took over the reins of Air Force Station, Jamnagar, one of the premier front line fighter air base of Indian Air Force (IAF).

Ankit

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 22 Jan 2010 05:22

Lt Gen V K Singh will be next Army Chief

The government has cleared Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Singh, the current Eastern Army Commander, as the next Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The officer, who commands forces guarding most of the India-China border, will take over when General Deepak Kapoor retires from service on March 31.
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While Singh was expected to take over as the next chief, given the precedence of seniority that is rigorously followed by the government, the appointment came after his records were formally approved by the ACC. The officer will serve as the COAS for a period of two years.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 01 Feb 2010 01:20

Air Marshal Neri New Head of IAF Maintenance

Air Marshal Joseph Neri will take over as the new Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM), tomorrow at Air Headquarters.

The AOM is responsible for 'Maintenance Management' of all weapon systems and equipment of Indian Air Force (IAF). He was formerly the Director General of Aircraft at Air Headquarters.

Air Marshal Neri is an Electronic Engineering graduate from College of Engineering, Gindy, Chennai. He was commissioned in the IAF on July 8, 1974, according to a release.

He held various field and staff appointments, including Senior Technical Officer of Tactical and combat Development Establishment (TACDE), Chief Engineering Officer of a major fighter base, Commanding Officer of a Signal Unit and Staff appointments as Director Training and Principal Director Operations-Information Technology and Networking, besides Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Maintenance Planning).

As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer (SMSO) while at South Western Air Command, he was responsible for the operational preparedness of the IAF fleet in the sector. He closely steered the maintenance activities of the nascent Sukhoi-30 fleet to overcome teething problems during his tenure there.

For his distinguished service, he was conferred the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) on January 26, 1999 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on Republic Day this year by President Pratibha Patil.

Ankit Desai · Post by **Ankit Desai** » 31 Mar 2010 00:39

Modernisation is main challenge for new army chief Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who assumes office Wednesday

A third generation army officer, Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970 and during his career spanning nearly 40 years has served in a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments.

He participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and in the operations of the Indian Peace-Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s.

Ankit

Ankit Desai · Post by **Ankit Desai** » 02 Apr 2010 02:38

Air Marshal Raha assumes charge of Western Air Command's Senior Air Staff Officer

Air Marshal Raha has approximately 3400 hours of flying to his credit.

A fighter combat leader and an experienced flying instructor, Air Marshal Raha is also an alumnus of the Tri-Services Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) and National Defence College (NDC).

Ankit

Ankit Desai · Post by **Ankit Desai** » 03 Apr 2010 01:23

Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh is new Eastern Command chief

Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry regiment in 1972 and has held several important command and staff posts, an army statement said.

Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh commanded an infantry battalion in the northeast and along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, besides serving in three UN Peace Keeping Missions, the statement said.

Ankit

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 03 Jan 2011 20:51

Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi takes over as CISC
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 197398.cms

Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi on Friday took cover as the chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee ( CISC )) from Air Marshal S.C. Mukul. Earlier, Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi was Commander in Chief of Andman and Nicobar Command . Vice Admiral Joshi is a specialist in Anti Submarine Warfare and a graduate of the Staff Course from Naval War College, USA. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi and College of Naval Warfare (NHCC). Vice Admiral Joshi has commanded three frontline units in the Western Fleet viz. the Missile Corvette Kuthar , the Kashin Class Destroyer Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier Viraat.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Mar 2011 23:29

Vipul wrote:"The cost negotiation for MMRCA will begin by the end of this month. I expect the contract to be signed before I retire from service in July this year," Naik, who interacted with the capital's women journalists, said.

So we can expect a new Chief by August this year.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 12 Mar 2011 00:25

ramana wrote:So we can expect a new Chief by August this year.

That new Air Chief is expected to be Air Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, the former Air Officer Commanding, No 2 Wing @ Lohegaon Air Force Station. He was serving as the AOC of No 2 Wing @ Lohegan AFS when the MKI-Rambhas were inducted there in September 2002. He is presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

dinesha wrote:Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi takes over as CISC
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 197398.cms

Vice Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi is positioned to be the next Naval Chief, when Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma retires on 31 August 2012. Incidentally Admiral N K Verma will become the next Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, when Air Chief Marshal P V Naik retires in July 2011.

wig · Post by **wig** » 26 Apr 2011 14:44

Officers suffer in Army-MoD promotion tussle

As the Army and the Ministry of Defence continue to nitpick over the proposed changes in the promotion policy for Army officers of the Brigadier rank and above, five senior Major-Generals have retired in the past few months and many are on their way out of the force after a frustrating wait to be considered for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

That’s not all. Two Major-Generals are set to relinquish office at the end of this month. By May-end, another four Major-Generals are slated to retire while three more will follow suit by July end. All this because the Army did not hold promotion boards on time.

As per rules, these retired officers were to be considered for promotion in July 2010. The selection board was delayed till January 2011 and the results of the same are still not out. All thanks to the confusion created by a new policy proposed for promotion, which aims to amend the one introduced just two years ago, in 2009. The MoD is not agreeing to it and has referred the matter to the Law Ministry for opinion, as it is not convinced about such rapid changes.

Once promoted as a Lieutenant-General, an officer goes on to head a corps or one of the seven Army commands, besides getting additional two years of service, till the age of 60.

According to the Army’s promotion policy, a meeting of the promotion board needs to be held at least six months prior to the date of creation of the first vacancy in the next rank. There were 3-4 vacancies of Lieutenant-Generals as on January 1 this year and, logically, the promotion board of Major-Generals should have been held in July 2010. However, the board was held only on January 7, 2011 and the minutes were sent for the MoD’s approval in February. The MoD said the promotion board was conducted as per the promotion policy that was still not approved

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110426/main6.htm

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 07 May 2011 10:04

Air Marshal GS Joneja is new AFMC director

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 May 2011 20:56

Future CNS Meets Present CNS

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 May 2011 22:08

IAF chief disfavours appointment of CDS in present format

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 20 May 2011 16:17

Air Marshal Nak Browne will be The Next Chief of Air Staff

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 20 May 2011 18:38

Omar Browne - son of Air Marshal N A K Browne - will be the second son (in a row) that serves in the IAF. He serves in the fighter stream. Air Chief Marshal P V Naik's son - Sqn Ldr V P Naik - served in the fighter stream as well, but now flies transport aircraft (I think An-32s) in the IAF.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 21 May 2011 07:18

Rakesh, Is AM Browne from Coonor and NDA batch ~1971?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 21 May 2011 07:23

Ramana, it has to be much earlier than 1971. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on 24 June 1972. For him to graduate in June 1972, would mean that he would have to serve at least 2 - 3 years in flight training school --> first on the HPT-32 Deepak, then on the HJT-16 Kiran Mk.1 for basic flying on jets, then on the HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2/TS-11 Iskra for advanced training and finally on to MOFTU flying MiG-21 trainers...which all pilots of his batch would have to do before they moved on to any platform in the IAF...back then it was Su-7s, MiG-21s, Canberras, Gnats, etc. He is more than likely a mid-60s NDA graduate.

Do you know of anyone from the NDA batch of 1971? Coonor is gorgeous!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 26 May 2011 03:21

NAK Browne to be next IAF chief
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... r-aircraft

From the above link --> The Air Chief-designate's son - Omar Browne - is a Rambha pilot, based at Bareilly AFS. Air Marshal Browne's tenure will be for 2½ years, so from 31 July 2011 till 31 January 2014. Father and Son have both flown the Rambha...coincidence or what eh?

Air Marshal Browne to be next IAF chief
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/162 ... t-iaf.html

Known as a perfectionist with a non-nonsense attitude, his major task in the next two and half years would be steering the introduction of 126 medium multi-role fighter aircraft in the IAF and the induction of indigenous light combat aircraft.

Non-Nonsense?

Who writes these gems? But apart from that, some interesting tidbits in the above link...

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 26 May 2011 03:33

Its typo. And no proof reading.

Hota hain.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 26 May 2011 06:42

Oh definitely a typo! Just sounded funny.

wig · Post by **wig** » 28 May 2011 09:18

20 major-generals to be promoted

After over a six-month delay, the government has cleared more than 20 Army major-generals for promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general, following the two-year-old policy of dividing them into the much sought after command and less attractive staff streams.

Government sources said here yesterday that the promotion of the major-generals to the next rank was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by PM Manmohan Singh recently. A total of 63 major-generals were in contention for promotion, but most of them retired in the past six months, thereby losing out on continuing in service and getting the higher rank.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110528/nation.htm#9

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 31 May 2011 08:17

Lt Gen Amarjeet Singh Chabbewal is the new GOC of Kharga Corps

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 31 May 2011 09:05

wig wrote:20 major-generals to be promoted
After over a six-month delay, the government has cleared more than 20 Army major-generals for promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general.
A total of 63 major-generals were in contention for promotion, but most of them retired in the past six months, thereby losing out on continuing in service and getting the higher rank.

Glad that the held-up promotions have started flowing... What is troubling is the bolded part of 63 maj-gens in consideration and most of them losing out because they retired before the GOI glacier moved.

Not exactly the best motivating factor.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 31 May 2011 18:38

Should read "Majors-General",not "generals"!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 01 Jun 2011 22:02

Lt. General HL Kakria Takes Over As DGAFMS
http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2011/06/l ... er-as.html

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 05 Jun 2011 23:18

Lt Gen Campose new General Officer Commanding of Konark Corps

PUNE: An alumni of NDA Khadakvasla Lt Gen Philip Campose took over charge as General Officer Commanding of 12 Corps ( Konark Corps ) on Sunday. Lt Gen Campose succeeds Lt Gen Narendra Singh, SM, VSM, who proceeded on posting to Army Headquarters.

General Campose got commissioned into 9 Gorkha Rifles Regiment of the Infantry in 1974. He later got transferred to Mechanised Infantry in 1982. In addition to the various requisite higher military courses which he has attended at premier Indian Military Institutions, he has attended a tactical course in Russia in 1986.

He possesses rich operational and command experience in the Desert sector having commanded a Mechanised Infantry battalion and later on an Armoured Brigade also, in this sector. He commanded an Infantry Division on Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his illustrious career of over three decades in the Army he has held various prestigious staff appointments like Colonel General Staff of a Division in North East, Deputy Director General in the Perspective Planning Directorate at Army Headquarters and Chief of Staff at Strategic Forces Command. Before being nominated as GOC 12 Corps he was Director General Perspective Planning at Army Headquarters.

He has also done a tenure as part of a UN Peacekeeping mission in the former Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992-93 and as Chief-de- Mission of UN Mission in Northern Iraq in 2000-01. The General has been awarded Vishist Seva Medal (VSM).

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 08 Jun 2011 18:19

Surgeon Rear Admiral Kunwar Karni Singh is New Co of Army R & R Hospital

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 09 Jun 2011 04:46

Surgeon Rear Admiral Kunwar Karni Singh --> the new CO of the Army Research & Referral Hospital.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 10 Jun 2011 08:30

China looms large for new IAF Chief
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... AF%20Chief

An IAF officer who has worked closely with Browne says "his other key commitments will include giving shape to how the Indian [fifth-generation fighter aircraft] and AMCA [unmanned combat aircraft] will turn out, and getting the Tejas LCA to full operational status in the shortest possible time." What’s more, he warns local industry that "HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.] is going to find it has an unusually tough customer in [Browne]."

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 10 Jun 2011 13:03

Brigadier Pradeep Narayanan takes command of Pangode Military Station

ASPuar · Post by **ASPuar** » 10 Jun 2011 15:33

Rakesh wrote:

Surgeon Rear Admiral Kunwar Karni Singh --> the new CO of the Army Research & Referral Hospital.

I wasnt aware that Commandant, AH (R&R) is a Lieutenant General Rank post?
Sure this pic is accurate?

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 10 Jun 2011 15:55

Would not be surprised if it is. It has advisors of the rank of Major Generals.
Command Hospitals are commanded by Major Generals.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 12 Jun 2011 21:05

Vice Adm K.M. Suryanarayana is new director general medical services of Indian Navy

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 12 Jun 2011 21:15

Southern Air Command Chief Air Marshal Sumit Mukherji retires on 30th June

jagbani · Post by **jagbani** » 14 Jun 2011 14:00

Good news
With increasing commitments on both its eastern and western fronts, the Indian Army has proposed to increase its sanctioned strength by another over 16,000 officers.

Read full story:-
Army mulling over increasing strength by 16,000 officers

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 14 Jun 2011 20:59

How are they planning to increase the officer intake when they have a shortfall to fill up in the first place?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 22 Jun 2011 23:14

^^^ Guess by opening up a new academy!!!

To plug officer shortage, Indian Army to open Bihar academy
http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... ice-cadets

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 28 Jun 2011 10:54

Vice Admiral Sekhar Sinha is the new chief of the Integrated Defence Staff

Akshay Kapoor · Post by **Akshay Kapoor** » 26 Jul 2011 16:31

^^^

Just a very small correction to usages on a couple of terms above.

1. There are no batches in the armed forces , they are referred to as courses. eg 100 course NDA, or 1st Course IMA or 37th course DSSC.

2. AMFC is not headed by a Director its head is the Commandant. It does have a Dean though. The heads of all training establishments in the armed forces are called Commandants. eg Commandant BEG & Centre, Commandant 11 GRRC or Commandant NDA.

Not nitpicking but I just felt that BR should be absolutely correct in usage of terms military.

sum · Post by **sum** » 01 Aug 2011 14:15

Meet NAK Browne, India's new air force chief

Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne has taken over as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff from Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, who retires after 42 years of illustrious service.

Born in Allahabad on 15 December 1951, Air Chief Marshal Browne was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on June 24, 1972. He has had a varied operational experience of flying Hunters, all variants of MiG-21s, Jaguars and SU-30s.

He was a member of the initial core team, which trained on the Jaguar aircraft in the United Kingdom and went on to command a premier Jaguar strike squadron subsequently.

He is a fighter combat leader and a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Alabama, US. He has had instructional tenures at the premiere flying establishment -- Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment -- and the tri-services Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

In a career spanning 39 years, he has held various operational and staff appointments that include -- joint director at Air War Strategy Cell at the Air Headquarters, chief operations officer and air officer commanding of a SU-30 base, Air-I at New Delhi-based Western Air Command (WAC) and assistant chief of the air staff (intelligence) at Air Headquarters.

He was also responsible for establishing the Indian Defence Wing in Tel Aviv, Israel in April 1997, where he served as the defence attache till Jul 2000.

From March 2007 to 31 May 2009, he functioned as the deputy chief of the air staff (DCAS) at the Air Headquarters and was responsible for IAF's major modernisation programmes.

Before taking over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters on January 1, 2011, he was the AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, under whose command and personal supervision, the first ever landing of an AN-32 (fixed wing aircraft) took place at Nyoma, advance Landing Ground, located at an altitude of 13,300 feet on September 18, 2009.

Married to Kiran Browne, they have a son, Omar, a Su-30 MKI pilot, and a daughter Alisha, who is working with a multinational company.