Mumbai, May 30: Vice Admiral Ajay Kocher has been appointed as the 48th Vice Chief of the Indian Navy, effective May 29. With a specialization in gunnery and missile systems, Vice Admiral Kocher was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988. He has held several significant positions, including Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and Commandant of the National Defence Academy.
In 2013, he became the commissioning commanding officer of the stealth frigate INS Trikand and later took command of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in 2017. Vice Admiral Kocher has also led critical operations on advanced frontline warships such as INS Vidyut, INS Kulish, and INS Mysore. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2021. His appointment is based on seniority and merit as determined by the Ministry of Defence.
This appointment comes as the Navy continues to strengthen its operational capabilities and leadership.