Pandit new Indian Naval Academy chief

New Delhi, Feb 19 : Vice Admiral R.B. Pandit on Monday took over as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.

Pandit, whose last assignment was the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet at Mumbai, was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral on Monday before he took charge as the sixth Commandant of the Academy.

An anti-submarine warfare expert, he has commanded INS Nirghat, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Jalashwa and the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron at Mumbai in the past. He has also served as the Naval Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. 

Pandit has also held important staff assignments such as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) at the navy headquarters in New Delhi and and Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala; Defence Services Staff College Wellington; College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London. 

Pandit took charge from Vice Admiral S.V. Bhokare, who completed his 15 months long tenure on Monday. 

Bhokare, who had taken over as head of the Indian Naval Academy on October 20, 2016, is credited with ushering a "marked transformation" in infrastructure and training facilities at the Academy. 

It was during Bhokare's tenure that the Academy won the prestigious Bakshi Cup competition, held between all six major military academies including National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA), for the first time. 

Bhokare was accorded a warm send off with the traditional ‘Pulling Out' ceremony.