Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief

NEW DELHI: Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, one of the highest decorated naval officers, who as a Lieutenant won a bravery award for flying IAF fighters in 1965 Indo-Pak conflict, was on Tuesday named as New Chief of the Naval Staff.
Prakash would take over from Admiral Madhvendera Singh who would retire on July 31, an official announcement said here.
An ace Naval aviator, Prakash was born in the Kashmir Valley and comes from an Army background.He has had the distinction of commanding major warships in the Naval flotilla as well as two air naval squadrons, including Sea Harriers.
For his daredevil exploits in the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, Vice Admiral Prakash was awarded Vir Chakra. He is also recipient of VSM, AVSM and PVSM in 2002.
Having commanded Eastern Naval fleet, Prakash has held posts of Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters, Commandant of NDA, Commander-in-chief of Tri-Service command at Andaman and Nicobar island, Commander-in-Chief of Western Naval Command at Mumbai and Vice Chief of Naval Staff.