INDIA. Mumbai: Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar, who oversaw several important operations, including the swift movement of naval assets after the Pulwama attack in February 2019, retired on superannuation after almost four decades of distinguished service on Monday.
During his tenure, he looked after several important operations, including the operations undertaken during the Galwan Valley standoff between India and China. He assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on February 1, 2019.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, he was commissioned on July 01, 1982. During the abinitio naval training, he was adjudged ‘Best all-round Cadet’ and also stood first overall in the yearlong Sub Lieutenant Technical Courses. He later specialized in Navigation and Direction and stood first in the coveted and highly competitive course.
The Admiral has held various challenging Staff and Command assignments during his distinguished career and has had a wide-ranging experience of over 25 years in sea-going billets onboard diverse platforms including the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier. He was the Navigating Officer of the Landing Ship Tank (Large) Magar during India’s Peace Keeping Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, the Fleet Navigating Officer of the Western Fleet during the Kargil War, and the Fleet Operations Officer of Western Fleet when the Indian Navy commenced anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
He commanded the missile boat Nashak as the commissioning CO, the missile corvette Kuthar, and frigate Talwar. On deputation to Mauritius, he commanded the Mauritius National Coast Guard Ship Vigilant and subsequently was appointed as the Commandant of the Mauritius National Coast Guard. His Joint Service tenures include instructional duties at India’s National Defence Academy and the Deputy Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Maritime) at the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff. On promotion to Flag Rank, the Admiral held key assignments of Flag Officer Sea Training, Chief of Staff of Southern Naval Command, and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Area.
As a Vice Admiral, he oversaw the Indian Navy’s largest base Seabird (the largest naval infrastructure project for India, located at Karwar in Karnataka), as the project’s Director-General, and was also the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. As the DCNS, he oversaw several large-scale naval operations, including those undertaken post the terrorist attack in Pulwama, the Indian Navy’s deployment in the Persian Gulf amidst US-Iran tensions, and the operations undertaken during the Galwan standoff. He also oversaw large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations both within India and abroad, large-scale Search and Rescue Operations, and Relief Operations were undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic such as Op Samudra Setu I and II and multiple Sagar Missions.
An alumnus of the Royal Naval Staff College, UK; College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College, Delhi, he won awards at each of these institutions including the prestigious Herbert Lott Prize at Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, UK. The Admiral holds a double MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Universities of Mumbai and Madras. He was awarded commendations by the Chief of Naval Staff in 1998, also by the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius in 2003, Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM )in 2010, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal( AVSM) in 2016, and Param Vishisht Seva Medal(PVSM) in 2021.
Deshmukh assumes charge as the controller of warship production and acquisition
In another development, Vice Admiral Kiran Manikrao Deshmukh, AVSM, VSM, assumed charge as the Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A) from Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani on May 31, Monday.
Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, receiving charge as the Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A) from Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani. (Photo credit: Indian Navy)
Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, who is an alumnus of VJTI, University of Mumbai, was commissioned as an Engineer Officer into the Indian Navy on March 31, 1986. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and is a postgraduate from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. The Flag Officer has held various important appointments in the Staff, Personnel, and Materiel Branch at Naval Headquarters, trial agencies, Material Organisation (MO), Naval Dockyard (ND), and Command staff at Head quarters, Eastern Naval Command.
The Flag Officer has served onboard frontline warships including Rajput Class, Delhi Class, and Tabar Class in various capacities. The Admiral is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service. The Flag Officer has served onboard frontline warships including Rajput Class, Delhi Class and Tabar Class in various capacities. The Admiral is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service. Before he was appointed CWP&A, as a Flag Officer he has served as Director General Naval Project at Visakhapatnam, Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam, Chief Staff Officer (Tech)/ Head quarters,Eastern Naval Command and Assistant Chief of Material (Dockyards & Refits).
He has served onboard frontline warships including Rajput Class, Delhi Class and Tabar Class in various capacities. The Admiral is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service. cCWP&A, as Flag Officer he has served as Director General Naval Project at Visakhapatnam, Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam, Chief Staff Officer (Tech)/ Head quarters,Eastern Naval Command and Assistant Chief of Material (Dockyards & Refits).
