Karwar: Rear Admiral Mahesh Singh assumed office as the Flag Officer commanding Karnataka Naval Area in Karwar on Saturday.

Mr. Singh took charge at a ceremonial parade, which was attended by several senior naval officers. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into Indian Navy in January 1987. He is a navigation and direction specialist. His notable sea appointments include commissioning crew of INS Akshay and Jyoti, executive officer of Frigate Tabar, and command of the missile vessel INS Nirghat during Op Vijay, MCGS Vigilante while on deputation to Government of Mauritius, and the LPD INS Jalashwa.

He has earlier served as joint director at the Directorate of Naval Operations, principal director at the Directorate of Personnel, and head of Navigation and Direction School at Kochi and the Maritime Warfare Centre in Visakhapatnam.

A postgraduate from the Defence Services Staff College and College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, Mr. Singh has undergone a course at the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.

He has received the ‘Nao Sena Medal’ for devotion to duty, a release said.