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THE NEW CHIEFS DESIGNATE -- An IDC Profile
New
Delhi, 14 November 2001
Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh PVSM AVSM --
Chief of Naval Staff Designate
After initial training at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla (near Pune), he won the Telescope for being the Best All Round Cadet on the Cadets Training Ship. He followed this up by winning the Sword of Honour on being adjudged the Best All Round Midshipman of the Fleet and was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an Acting Sub Lieutenant on 1 January 1963.
He is a specialist Gunnery Officer and has completed the Advanced Gunnery Course at the Royal College of Science, Shrivenham, UK. His other academic and professional qualifications include graduation at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiris) and the Naval War College at Newport, USA. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi.
His naval career includes several staff and training assignments both afloat and ashore. He has commanded the missile frigate INS Talwar, the Naval Academy at Kochi, the missile destroyer INS Ranvir and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.
As a Flag Officer he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, Chief Instructor (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College and has commanded the Western Fleet as FOCWF. He then assumed the post of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.
He was promoted Vice Admiral on 2 January 1995 and served as Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition and as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. On 23 October 1996 he was appointed to command the Navy's training command at Kochi, as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command and then took over as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command at Mumbai. A highlight of his tenure at Mumbai was the conduct of the International Fleet Review in February 2001 in which 70 Indian Navy and 30 foreign naval ships were reviewed by the President of India in Mumbai harbour. The prestigious event was attended by the Chiefs of Naval Staff of 30 countries besides India.
He has received CNS' Commendation on two occasions and is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India for distinguished service.
The Admiral is a keen golfer and enjoys riding, sailing and skeet shooting. Mrs Madhvendra Singh is a Special Educator and as President of the Navy Wives' Welfare Association, is actively engaged in welfare activities for sailors' families.
Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh, who presently is Vice Chief of Naval Staff, will take over as Chief of Naval Staff from Admiral Sushil Kumar on 29 December 2001.
Air Marshal S Krisnaswamy PVSM, AVSM, VM and bar
Chief of Air Staff Designate
Air Marshal S Krishnaswamy was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1961. In his early years of service, he flew Hunter, Gnat and MiG-21 aircraft. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he was "Mentioned in Despatches" while flying a Gnat in air combat missions.
He is a qualified test pilot and has undertaken development and evaluation flight testing of a variety of aircraft within the country and abroad. He is operational on a number of current aircraft including the Mirage-2000. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and has commanded the first Electronic Warfare Squadron of the IAF.
He has been the Deputy Air Advisor at the Indian High Commission in U.K., Chief of Operations of a Mirage-2000 Base, and Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Pune, a premier base for MiG-29 and maritime Jaguar aircraft.
In his staff appointments, he has held the posts of Director Air Staff Requirements, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Senior Air Staff Officer of an operational command. He commanded the Central Air Command for eight months before taking over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command (SWAC) in December 1997. After heading the SWAC for nearly two years, he assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command on 1st November 1999. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.
In his early years of service, he received commendations from the Chief of the Air Staff and Commanders in Chief for exemplary performances and has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal twice. He has also been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
He is a Fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India. In 1999, he received the prestigious Agni award for self-reliance from the Hon'ble Prime Minister for his work in the field of flight-testing. He has flown over 4,000 hours and has captained a variety of more than 30 aircraft/helicopters.
Air Marshal S Krishnaswamy will take over as Chief of Air Staff from Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis on 31 December 2001.