The Hindu : Front Page : Sureesh Mehta, next Naval Chief

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Saturday, Sep 02, 2006

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Sureesh Mehta, next Naval Chief

Special Correspondent

He commanded the Western Fleet during Operation Parakram

Sureesh Mehta

NEW DELHI: Vice-Admiral Sureesh Mehta has been appointed the next Chief of Naval Staff. Admiral Mehta will take over from Admiral Arun Prakash when he retires on October 31.

Promoted as Rear Admiral in 1995, Admiral Mehta served as Flag Officer Goa Area, Assistant Controller Carrier Projects and Assistant Chief of Personnel. He commanded the Western Fleet, the `sword arm' of the Indian Navy, during Operation Parakram, the year-long standoff with Pakistan in 2001-2002. His appointments in the rank of Vice-Admiral include Chief of Personnel, Director-General Coast Guard and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. He is now the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) at Visakhapatnam.

The Admiral assumed command of the ENC on September 30, 2005. During his tenure, it was involved in several operational missions in the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia. Also, the first-ever President's Fleet Review on the eastern seaboard was during his tenure in which over 66 ships and 50 aircraft of the naval fleet participated.

Admiral Mehta is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy in 1967. He is an aviator of the `old mould,' having joined the Fleet air arm early and has operated from the earlier aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, flying conventional jets and Sea Hawk aircraft.

The Admiral was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 1995 and the Param Vishist Seva Medal in 2005 for exceptional meritorious services.

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