P2S5 INFOREIf ION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) GOVERNIENT OF INDIA

VICE i1IRiL KASZ RAJU TAKES OVER E.STERN NAVAL C0I1IAND

Delhi 31 August, 1992

Vice Admiral KZ Riu took over as the Flag Officer -Commanding—in—Chief, , Bombay from Vice Admiral I-I Johnson, who is retiring today. Admiral Raju was the Flag. Officer Commanding—in—Chief, , Cochin. Educated*at the Prince of Whles Royal Indian Military

CoJege, Dehra fun9 Vice Admiral KASZ Raju, PVSM, AVSN, NM joined the Joint Seices Wing, National Defence Academy aS acodet in July 1953. Having been adjudged the best all—round

Naval Cadet, he commissioned in the Navy on 01 Ju 58, In the Fleet Air Arm he specialised in Air Warfare and has flown

more than 25 ctif runt tyres of aircraft in the Navy and the Ar Force. He was a ocuTh.r of the first Fighter Squadron in the

Navy and embarked on Ind ia's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant9 when it was commissioned in 1961. During the 1971 Indc—Pak war ho \tarded the Mao for gallantry whilst serving a th: Awocutive Officer of the frigate, INS

Brahmaputra. He has held a wide variety of command appointments b.th arid shore, in the last 20 yearS. These include commands of Indian Nvl fhjs Tir, Deepak, Vikrant, Naval Air Station Cortd ...... 2/— -2-

H r:jf a ua:JrOn at Goa. On promotion to

Flag Rank in 1985, ha took cvei' :8 the Aaistdnt Chief of

Personnel (Career lanair) at N:v l adguarters and later served as the Flag Officer Candin-. 1eEtern Fleet in 187-

89 during which period two TLaw NiaaiiLu Frigates and the Second Aircraft Cerier joined the fleet ani. be came highly combat efficient units. On promotion to Vice Adieiral in March 1989 he was appointed asthe Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, an appoint- ment he held till Dec ember 1990 He WaS the Flag Officer

CommandinginChief of the Southern Naval Command from De ember 1990, ti:Li taking over the prsent appointment.

He is a graduate of the Defence Servi'e Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London. In rec• gnition of his distii:uiahed ;aervice -of an exceptionallyhi€;h order, he has been awarded the Ati and the Param Vishisht Save Redal.

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