R. Hari Kumar
R. Hari Kumar | |
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![]() Vice Admiral / Vice Chief of Defence Staff R. Hari Kumar | |
Born | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 12 April 1962
Allegiance | India |
Service/ | Indian Navy |
Years of service | 1 January 1983 – present |
Rank | Vice Admiral / Vice Chief of Defence Staff |
Service number | 02540-Y[1] |
Commands | |
Awards | ![]() ![]() |
Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar AVSM VSM (born 12 April 1962) is the current and 13th Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, assuming the office on 2 December 2019.[2] In his prior appointments, he served as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, and as the Chief of the Staff of the Western Naval Command. He was the Commandant of the Indian Naval War College in Goa and served as a naval advisor to the government of Seychelles.[3][4] He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai.
Early life and education
Kumar was born on 12 April 1962 in Trivandrum, Kerala,[4] where he graduated from Mannam Memorial Residential High School. He completed a pre-degree course at the Government Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram.[3]
He joined the 61st course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in January 1979 and was assigned to the Juliet squadron. He graduated from the NDA in December 1981.[3][4] In 1996, he attended the Naval Staff Course at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.[4] He completed his bachelors from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and his masters from King's College London. He holds an MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai.[3]
As a part of his professional training, he attended the Army Higher Command Course at the Army War College in 2004, and also at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2009.[3] He pursued his postgraduate diploma in a shipping management course from the Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping in Mumbai.[4]
Career
Kumar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1983. His positions included gunnery officer (GO) of the INS Ranjit, commissioning the GO VIII of the INS Ranvir and commissioning the GO of the INS Kuthar. He also served as executive officer (EXO) of INS Vipul. As a commanding officer, he commanded the Coast Guard Ship C-01, the missile boat INS Nishank, the Template:Sclass- INS Ranvir, Template:Sclass- missile corvette INS Kora, and Template:Sclass- INS Viraat.[3][4]
His fleet appointments include Fleet Gunnery Officer and Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. His staff assignments include Command GO of the Western Naval Command, and naval advisor to the Government of Seychelles. He also served as the Training Commander for the INS Dronacharya. He was the Commandant of the Indian Naval War College in Goa. As a flag officer, he served as the Chief of the Staff of the Western Naval Command, the Flag Officer of Sea Training of the Southern Naval Command and the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF).[5][6][7]
During the second phase of the UN intervention in Somalia, from December 1992 to June 1993, he served in the Civil and Military Operations Centre in Mogadishu. The admiral assumed charge on 1 August 2018 as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy, succeeding Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla.[4]
Personal life
Kumar is married to Kala Nair, with whom he has a daughter. He enjoys swimming, playing badminton, and walking.[3]
Military Awards and Decorations
During his career, he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2010 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2016 for his service.[1][3][4][8]
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Gallery
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Israeli VAdm. Ram Rutberg with Kumar and other personnel
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VAdm. S. P. S. Cheema and Air Marshal BS Dhanoa being briefed by Kumar
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Maldivian naval officers welcome Indian Navy personnel at Port Louis, Mauritius, in 2014.
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INS Godavari decommissioning ceremony
References
- ^ a b "365 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ @HQ_IDS_India (1 December 2019). "V Adm R Hari Kumar, AVSM, VSM assumed the Appt of CISC on 02 Dec 19" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chief of Personnel (COP)". Indian Navy. Indian Navy. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, AVSM VSM Assumes Charge as Chief of Personnel". Indian Navy. Indian Navy. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Appointments". Pressreader. SP's NavalForces. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Navy appoints new fleet commanders". The Hindu. S. Anandan. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "In top naval appointments, Rear Admiral R Hari Kumar is the new Western Fleet commander, Rear Admiral MS Pawar gets Maharashtra & Guajrat, & Rear Admiral A B Singh gets Eastern Fleet". The Times Of India. Rajat Pandit. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Indian Navy admirals
- Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet
- Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
- Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal
- Military personnel from Thiruvananthapuram
- National Defence Academy alumni
- Alumni of King's College London
- Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni
- Naval War College alumni
- University of Mumbai alumni