Arun Prakash

Born in October 1944 in Anantnag (J&K), Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (Retd) was struck by \"sea fever\" from an early age and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 Jan, 1966. He specialised in aviation, and qualified as an aircraft carrier pilot on the Sea Hawk jet fighter from the deck of INS Vikrant in 1968.His aviation tenures include service in IN Air Squadrons 550 (Islanders), 551 (Vampires/Kirans), and 300 (Sea Hawk/Sea Harriers). In 1976, when the Maritime...See more

Born in October 1944 in Anantnag (J&K), Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (Retd) was struck by \"sea fever\" from an early age and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 Jan, 1966. He specialised in aviation, and qualified as an aircraft carrier pilot on the Sea Hawk jet fighter from the deck of INS Vikrant in 1968.His aviation tenures include service in IN Air Squadrons 550 (Islanders), 551 (Vampires/Kirans), and 300 (Sea Hawk/Sea Harriers). In 1976, when the Maritime Reconnaissance role came to the Navy, he converted to, and briefly flew the four-engined Super Constellation in INAS 312. He has commanded two Air Squadrons, and the Naval Air Station INS Hansa. He supervised the conversion and operational training of the crew on the Sea Harrier VSTOL fighter in the UK in 1983, and ferried the aircraft back to India. He has flown 2500 hours.He served afloat on IN ships Vikrant, Kirpan and Delhi. In subsequent years, he commanded a variety of sea-going units which included Chatak (missile boat), Beas (training frigate) Vindhyagiri (ASW frigate), and the aircraft carrier Viraat. He commanded the Eastern Fleet during 1995-97. He served as ACNS (Air) in 1993 and subsequently was Commandant, National Defence Academy (1997-99) and Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters (1999-2001). In October 2001, he was appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of the newly created Unified Andaman & Nicobar Command and subsequently took over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command on 31 December, 2002. He took over as the 20th Chief of the Naval Staff on 31 July, 2004.He is a graduate of the IAF Test Pilots School (1976), the Defence Services Staff College (1979) and the US Naval War College (1990). During the 1971 war, Admiral Arun Prakash served with an IAF fighter bomber squadron flying Hunters, and was awarded the Vir Chakra for gallantry in air action over West Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. He is the recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal (1985), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (1991) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2002) for distinguished services rendered.The Admiral comes from a family with a strong military tradition: his two elder brothers, had distinguished careers in the Indian Army and many nephews and nieces are either serving in the Forces or married to Service Officers. Admiral and Mrs Kumkum Prakash have one daughter who is married to a former IAF pilot. See less