Vice Adm Ajay Kochhar takes over as Commandant, National Defence Academy

New Delhi: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, AVSM, NM assumed the appointment of Commandant, National Defence Academy (NDA) today. He took over the charge from Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor, AVSM, VM. The Commandant of the National Defence Academy is the head and overall in charge of the National Defence Academy. The Commandant of the Academy is a Three-star rank officer from the three Services in rotation. He is supported by the Deputy Commandant (a Two-star rank appointment), Brigadier Administration (Brig Adm), Principal Director (Training) (both One-Star appointments), a Civilian Principal and the Adjutant (An Officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel).

As an alumnus of the NDA, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1988.

In a career spanning 34 years, the Flag Officer has held various important and challenging command and staff appointments. He has been the Fleet Commander of the Western Fleet, the sword arm of the Indian Navy, where he led the Fleet for critical operational missions, foreign bilateral exercises and major HADR takings.

He has commanded India's only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and, during his tenure, the carrier was deployed extensively for operations on both the East and West coasts. The officer has the distinction of commissioning a frontline frigate for the Navy at Kaliningrad, Russia. His other command appointments include INS Kirpan, a missile Corvette and missile vessels during Operation Parakrama.

The staff appointments of the Flag Officer include Joint Director-Naval Plans and Director of Staff Requirements at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy), wherein he formulated the future maritime perspective and capabilities enhancement plans for the Indian Navy. He has also steered major shipbuilding projects for the Navy as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition.

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