Rajesh Pendharkar

Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command. He earlier served as the Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). He has also served as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) at Naval Headquarters New Delhi, as the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) at Southern Naval Command, Kochi and as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA) at Mumbai.

Vice Admiral

Rajesh Pendharkar

AVSM, VSM
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Navy
Years of serviceJanuary 1987 - Present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands heldEastern Naval Command
Maharashtra Naval Area
INS Viraat (R22)
INS Shivalik (F47)
INS Kora (P61)
Awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Education

Pendharkar is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 1987. He attended the graduate course of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, as well as the Naval War College. Pendharkar also attended the Naval Command College, Rhode Island, USA. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.[1]

Pendharkar was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 1987. He is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) specialist. His operational assignments include commissioning crew of the Sukanya-class patrol vessel INS Subhadra (P51), ASW Officer of the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Dunagiri (F36) and the Godavari-class guided-missile frigate INS Ganga (F22).[1]

Pendharkar served as the Executive Officer of the Khukri-class corvette INS Kirpan (P44) and the Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore (D60). He has commanded the lead ship of her class of corvettes INS Kora (P61) and the lead ship of her class of stealth missile frigates INS Shivalik (F47). He also commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22) and was her penultimate commanding officer.[2]

His staff assignments include Flag Lieutenant to the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area, and instructor at the National Defence Academy. He has also served as Joint Director in the Directorate of Staff Requirements and Joint Director in the Directorate of Personnel, both at naval headquarters. As a Commodore, he served as the Principal Director, Net-Centric Operations and as the Principal Director in the Directorate of Personnel at NHQ.[3]

Flag rank

Pendharkar was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in February 2016 and was appointed Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ACIDS) at the Defence Intelligence Agency. He then moved to HQ Western Naval Command as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations). On 25 March 2019, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.[3] After a year-long stint, in February 2020, he took over as the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) in Kochi. As FOST, his charter included the conduct of the operational sea training of all ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.[4][5]

On 7 June 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Director General Naval Operations at Naval HQ.[6] He subsequently served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) at New Delhi. On 1 August 2023, he assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (FOC-in-C ENC), taking over from Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta at a ceremonial parade held at the Naval Base Visakhapatnam.[7]

Awards and decorations

Pendharkar is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished service.[8][9]

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal
50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

References
  1. "Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Sea Training, Kochi | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  2. "Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. "Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area". pib.gov.in.
  4. "Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar appointed new Flag Officer Sea Training, Indian Navy". Indus Dictum. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. "New Flag Officer Sea Training takes charge". The Hindu. 13 February 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  6. @indiannavy (7 June 2021). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. "VICE ADM RAJESH PENDHARKAR TAKES OVER AS THE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF, ENC". pib.gov.in. 1 August 2023.
  8. "Navy Gets A New Flag Officer Sea Training | ADU Media". www.aviation-defence-universe.com. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. "Sainik Samachar Vol. 67, No. 3" (PDF). Sainik Samachar. Retrieved 11 April 2020.



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