Karambir Singh
Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, is the 24th and current Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. The "Grey Eagle" of the Navy, he replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba as the CNS after Admiral Lanba's retirement on 31 May 2019. Prior to his ascension, Admiral Singh served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Flag Officer
Early life and education
Born in a Sikh family to an IAF officer in Jalandhar, Punjab, Admiral Singh is a second generation military officer. He attended the Barnes School in Deolali, before joining the 56th course of the National Defence Academy, where he was in the Hunter Squadron. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.Career
He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980 and earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982. He has extensive experience with the HAL Chetak, Kamov Ka-25 and Kamov Ka-28 helicopters.The Admiral has commanded the Coast Guard ship ICGS Chand Bibi, the corvette INS Vijaydurg, and the guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Ashore, he served at Naval Headquarters as the Joint Director Naval Air Staff, and as Captain Air and Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Air Station at Mumbai. He was also a member of the Aircrew Instrument Rating and Categorisation Board.
On promotion to flag rank, the Admiral was appointed as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. His other important flag appointments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Unified Command at Andaman & Nicobar Islands and as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area. As the Director General of Project Seabird, he stewarded the development of the Navy's new base at Karwar. He went on serve as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, following which he was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
He assumed office of the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command on 31 October 2017, succeeding Vice Admiral Harish Bisht. In a career spanning close to 39 years, he has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal.
On 23 March 2019, the Government of India named him Chief of Naval Staff, superseding Vice Admiral Bimal Verma. He is the first helicopter pilot to have served as Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy.