Alok Bhatnagar new Naval Officer-in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

CHENNAI: Commodore Alok Bhatnagar today took over as Naval Officer-in-Charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from Commodore Amar K Mahadevan, following the latter's superannuation.

A Navigation and Direction Specialist, Bhatnagar earlier served as Principal Director, International Fleet Review at Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defence (Navy), New Delhi, a Defence release here said.

In his 30 years of service, he has served on various ships and shore establishments. Among others, he had commanded IN TRV A 71 (a Torpedo Recovery Vessel), INS Prahar (an indigenously built Missile Boat), INS Kulish (an indigenously built Missile Corvette) and INS Jalashwa (a Landing Platform Dock), it said.

"Some of his major shore appointments include Director Naval Plans at IHQ MoD (Navy), Naval Attache in Washington DC and Principal Director International Fleet Review at IHQ MoD (Navy), New Delhi," it added.

A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Karanja, Commodore Bhatnagar was commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2002 and awarded Nao Sena Medal for Devotion to Duty in 2010, the release said.

He took over from Mahadevan at a ceremonial parade conducted at INS Adyar here, it added.