R. B. Pandit

Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit, AVSM is a serving Flag Officer in the Indian Navy. He is the current Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command. He assumed the position on 16 July 2019 from Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh.

Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit AVSM
RAdm Pandit (left) taking command of the Western Fleet
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	July 1984 - present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Western Fleet 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron INS Jalashwa INS Vindhyagiri INS Nirghat
Awards	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Career

Pandit graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy in July 1984. He is an Anti-submarine warfare specialist. [1]

During his career, he has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.

Adm Pandit has commanded the Veer-class corvette INS Nirghat, the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Vindhyagiri and the only Amphibious transport dock of the Indian Navy - the INS Jalashwa. He has also commanded the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron. [2] After promotion to the flag rank of Rear Admiral, Pandit commanded the Western Fleet. [3]

Ashore, he has served as the Naval Advisor at the High Commission of India, Islamabad in Pakistan, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) at the Naval Headquarters and the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command. [4]

In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala [5] before taking over as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command.

Awards and decorations

Adm Pandit has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.

References

1. "Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM takes over as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command at Mumbai. Commissioned in Jul 84, he is an alumnus of NDA. An Anti Submarine Warfare Specialist, he has commanded a missile corvette, a frigate & a Landing Platform Dock 1/2pic.twitter.com/9qlEBslT5Z". 16 June 2019.
2. "Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM Assumes Charge as Commandant Indian Naval Academy". Indian Navy. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
3. "Rear Admiral R.B. Pandit is Western Fleet chief". The Hindu. 16 October 2016.
4. "R B Pandit takes charge as head of Southern command". DNA India. 2 April 2015.
5. "Vice-Admiral Pandit takes over as Commandant of INA". The Economic Times. 19 February 2018.