Director General Krishnaswamy Natarajan is the New Chief of the Indian Coast Guard

New Delhi. Director General Krishnaswamy Natarajan, the senior-most officer of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), took over as its Chief June 30.

Belonging to ICG’s 1984 batch, he is the second officer after his predecessor, Director General Rajendra Singh, to become the ICG Chief. Till three years back, Vice Admirals from the Indian Navy used to head the ICG but now, as the Service matures, officers from ICG’s own cadre are gradually filling up all the posts.
ICG is a big organisation, with its own aircraft, helicopters and ships and patrol boats and there is a big ongoing project to strengthen it to ensure coastal security. The new DG will now be steering its implementation.

Krishnaswamy Natarajan has an illustrious career spanning 35 years, and has specialised in Search & Rescue, Maritime Safety and Port Operations. An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Madras University, has held Command and Staff assignments both ashore and afloat, and commanded all classes of ICG ships including Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV). He has also been Chairman Coast Guard Service Selection Board.

The Flag officer was trained at the US Coast Guard Reserve Training Centre, Yorktown in Virginia. He has been decorated with TM (Tatrakshak Medal) and PTM (President’s Tatrakshak Medal) Coast Guard awards.

Notably, ICG has 135 ships and 60 aircraft, with plans to raise their numbers to 175 and 110, respectively in the coming years. However, deployment of ICG assets is coordinated by the Indian Navy which has the overall responsibility to ensure the country’s maritime safety.