Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, who helped the city get its due place on the international map by organising the International Fleet Review 2016 here, reached the city on Saturday on a two-day farewell visit.
Admiral Dhowan, accompanied by his wife and president Naval Wives Welfare Association Minu Dhowan, was received by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, and accorded a guard of honour at INS Dega.
Admiral Dhowan retires May 31, after over four decades of service.
Admiral Dhowan chose to deliver his first address as Chief of Naval Staff to the sailors of the ENC, and immediately after Cyclone Hudhud devastated the city, he launched the green drive at the Naval Base here. During his visit, the Admiral is scheduled to interact with officers, sailors and defence civilians of the ENC and also embark the Eastern Fleet at sea.
His previous assignments include Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet; Chief of Staff of Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam; Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of Naval Staff. It was during Admiral Dhowan’s tenure that a large number of initiatives were taken to enhance India’s presence across our area of interest. Admiral Dhowan’s tenure also saw the induction of new indigenously designed and constructed platforms into the naval inventory and the creation of several new operational assets, including anti-submarine warfare corvettes Kamorta and Kadmatt, which were added to the Eastern Fleet, induction of HAWK Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) squadron at Visakhapatnam.
