G. Ashok Kumar
Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a serving Flag Officer in the Indian Navy. He is the current Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He assumed the position on 30 January 2019 from Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar who took over the Western Naval Command.[1]
G. Ashok Kumar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service/ |  Indian Navy |
| Years of service | 1 July 1982 - present |
| Rank |   Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | |
| Awards |  Param Vishisht Seva Medal  Ati Vishisht Seva Medal  Vishisht Seva Medal |
Early life and education
He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravathinagar, Tamil Nadu and the National Defence Academy, Pune.[2]
Career
He was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy on 1 July 1982. He is a navigation specialist. He completed his specialisation at Kochi in 1989. Post this, he served as a Navigation Officer of the Frigates INS Beas and INS Nilgiri, the Destroyer INS Ranvir and the Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.[2]
During his career, he has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command Course at the Army War College, Mhow and the Expeditionary Operations course at Quantico, Virginia.[3]
Adm Ashok has commanded the Kora-class corvette INS Kulish (P63) and the Destroyer INS Ranvir. He has also served as the Executive Officer of INS Brahmaputra.
Ashore, he has served as the Head of Training Team (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India in Singapore and the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.
After he was promoted to flag rank as a Rear Admiral, he has held the appointments of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat (FOMAG).[2]
In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as the Commandant of his alma mater - the National Defence Academy [4] and as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.[3]
Awards and decorations
Adm Ashok has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.
Personal life
He and his wife Ms. Geetha Ashok have two daughters - Shruti and Swati
References
- "Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
- "Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
- "VICE ADMIRAL G ASHOK KUMAR, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in.
- "Commandants Gallery".
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ajit Kumar P |
Vice Chief of Naval Staff 30 Jan 2019 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria |
Commandant of the National Defence Academy 2015 - 2016 |
Succeeded by Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler |
| Preceded by R. Hari Kumar |
Flag Officer Sea Training 2014 - 2015 |
Succeeded by S. K. Grewal |
| Preceded by Harish Bisht |
Flag Officer Sea Training 2011 - 2012 |
Succeeded by Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar |