Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P takes charge as Western Naval Command chief

Vice-Admiral Ajit Kumar P on Thursday took over as the new Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC) of the Indian Navy in Mumbai. He succeeded Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra who retired upon superannuation, after an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades in the Navy. 

At a ceremonial parade at the Naval Air Station Shikra, the outgoing and incoming Cs-in-C were accorded a guard of honour after which they proceeded to the Headquarters of the Western Naval Command for a formal handing-taking over. On completion, Vice Admiral Luthra was “pulled out” in true Naval tradition.

An alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam and the National Defence Academy (NDA), Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P was commissioned in the Indian Navy on July 1, 1981.

As a specialist in missiles and gunnery, the Flag Officer has served onboard frontline warships of the IN and abroad. Adm Ajit Kumar has the rare distinction of commanding six warships, including two foreign warships.

The officer has completed the Naval Higher Command Course and is also an alumnus of the prestigious Naval War College, Newport, USA. The Admiral has served extensively in the Western Naval Command in the initial specialist and Command appointments. He has also been the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.

Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P has also been the Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Fleet, Commanding Officer of  Gunnery and Missiles Training School - INS Dronacharya, served as Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resources Development) at IHQ MoD (Navy) and  Chief of Staff of Southern Naval Command. 

Promoted to the Rank of Vice Admiral in December 13, he has been Commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala. His tenures also include extensive experience in higher joint defence management where he has served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning & Force Development), at the HQ IDS.  He was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi in his last appointment prior to assuming charge as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command.

In recognition of his service, he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2006, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014 and Param Vishist Seva Medal in 2019 by President Ram Nath Kovind.