Vice Admiral Atul Anand. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: Indian Navy’s Vice Admiral Atul Anand assumed charge of the additional secretary in the department of military affairs. Indian Army’s Lieutenant General Anil Puri held the post previously.
Lt Gen Puri superannuated on February 28.
VAdm Anand was commissioned into the executive branch of the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, 71st Course, Delta Squadron; Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur (Bangladesh); and National Defence College, New Delhi.
He has also attended the advanced security cooperation course at Asia Pacific Centre of Security Studies, Hawaii, USA.
A recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), the vice admiral has held several key appointments in his career, including the command of torpedo recovery vessel INTRV A72, missile boat INS Chatak, corvette INS Khukri, and destroyer INS Mumbai.
He also served as the navigating officer of Navy ships Sharda, Ranvijay, and Jyoti. He was also a direction officer of a Sea Harrier squadron (INAS 300) and the executive officer of the destroyer INS Delhi.
His important staff appointments include joint director, staff requirements; directing staff at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; director, Naval Operations; and director, Naval Intelligence (Operations).
He has also served as principal director, naval operations, and principal director, strategy, concepts, and transformation at the defence ministry’s Integrated Headquarters (Navy).
As a flag officer, he has served as assistant chief of naval staff (foreign cooperation and intelligence); deputy commandant and chief instructor at the National Defence Academy; flag officer commanding, Maharashtra naval area; flag officer commanding, Karnataka Naval area; and director general, naval operations.
