Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar takes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff
New Delhi, May 29. Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar on May 29 assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS), succeeding to one of the Indian Navy’s top leadership positions after a distinguished career spanning more than 37 years.
After taking over the appointment, the Flag Officer paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial by laying a floral wreath in honour of personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Vice Admiral Kochhar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1988. A specialist in gunnery and missile systems, he has held several operational, command and staff assignments during his naval career.
He has commanded Indian Naval Ships Nashak, Vibhuti and Kirpan, besides serving as the commissioning commanding officer of the stealth frigate INS Trikand. He also commanded the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, during whose tenure the warship successfully completed the integration and operationalisation of its air wing.
The Admiral is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, the Naval War College and the Royal College of Defence Studies. At Naval Headquarters, he served in several key policy and planning roles, including Joint Director (Naval Plans), Director of Staff Requirements and Principal Director DSCT.
Promoted to Flag Rank in 2018, Vice Admiral Kochhar later served as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. He subsequently commanded the Western Fleet in 2021 before taking over as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, where he was associated with improvements in training standards and infrastructure.
He assumed charge as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command on May 25, 2024, during a challenging security environment in the western maritime theatre. In that role, he led the command’s response to both conventional and non-traditional threats along India’s western seaboard, including high-intensity naval operations during Operation Sindoor.
For his distinguished service, the officer was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.
Before becoming VCNS, Vice Admiral Kochhar served as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, where he played a major role in strengthening operational coordination and enhancing jointness among the three armed services.
Vice Admiral Kochhar is married to Reyman Kochhar, an artist associated with the fields of advertising and education. The couple has two children.
