New Delhi. Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, a recipient of President’s award of VSM, assumed charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) at Kochi on March 18.

Rear Admiral Swaminathan, a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla at Pune; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham in the United Kingdom; the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja at Mumbai, and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, US.

He has commanded five frontline ships of the Indian Navy including the missile vessels, INS Vidyut and INS Vinash; the missile corvette, INS Kulish; the guided missile destroyer, INS Mysore; and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Prior to assuming charge as FOST, the Admiral officer was the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters Southern Naval Command and played a key role in the conduct of all training in the Indian Navy.

He was also instrumental in raising the Indian Naval Safety Team that oversees operational safety across all domains of the Navy.

The officer has a BSc degree from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London, MPhil in Strategic Studies from the Mumbai University and a PhD in International Studies from the Mumbai University.

FOST functions under the operational and administrative jurisdiction of Flag Officer Commanding-in–Chief, Southern Naval Command. His charter includes conduct of operational sea training for ships of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard by enhancing crew proficiency in all aspects, including safe navigation practices, damage control and firefighting drills, weapon firings as well as seamanship training.

The officer has taken over the appointment from Rear Admiral Sanjay J Singh, NM, who has proceeded to Mumbai to assume his next appointment as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF).