R. Hari Kumar

Kumar was born on 12 April 1962 in Trivandrum, Kerala,[4] where he graduated from Mannam Memorial Residential High School. He completed a pre-degree course at the Government Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram.[3]

He joined the 61st course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in January 1979 and was assigned to the Juliet squadron. He graduated from the NDA in December 1981.[3][4] In 1996, he attended the Naval Staff Course at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.[4] He completed his bachelors from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and his masters from King's College London. He holds an MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai.[3]

As a part of his professional training, he attended the Army Higher Command Course at the Army War College in 2004, and also at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2009.[3] He pursued his postgraduate diploma in a shipping management course from the Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping in Mumbai.[4]

RAdm. R. Hari Kumar, FOC Western Fleet, and RAdm. A. B. Singh interacting with local populace in Lakshadweep during disaster relief exercises in 2014.

Kumar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1983. His positions included gunnery officer (GO) of the INS Ranjit, commissioning the GO VIII of the INS Ranvir and commissioning the GO of the INS Kuthar. He also served as executive officer (EXO) of INS Vipul. As a commanding officer, he commanded the Coast Guard Ship C-01, the missile boat INS Nishank, the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir, Kora-class missile corvette INS Kora, and Centaur-class aircraft carrier INS Viraat.[3][4]

His fleet appointments include Fleet Gunnery Officer and Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. His staff assignments include Command GO of the Western Naval Command, and naval advisor to the Government of Seychelles. He also served as the Training Commander for the INS Dronacharya. He also served as the Commandant of the Naval War College, Goa.

During the second phase of the UN intervention in Somalia, from December 1992 to June 1993, he served in the Civil and Military Operations Centre in Mogadishu.

Kumar is married to Kala Nair, with whom he has a daughter. He enjoys swimming, playing badminton, and walking.[3]

During his career, he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2010, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2016 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2021 for his service.[1][3][4][8][9][10]

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  Israeli VAdm. Ram Rutberg with Kumar and other personnel
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  VAdm. S. P. S. Cheema and Air Marshal BS Dhanoa being briefed by Kumar
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  Maldivian naval officers welcome Indian Navy personnel at Port Louis, Mauritius, in 2014.
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  INS Godavari decommissioning ceremony