Dinesh Kumar Tripathi

Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a serving four star officer of the Indian Navy and the current Chief of Naval Staff.^[1][2] He previously served as the 38th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.^[3]He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and as the Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO). On 19 April 2024, he was appointed the next Chief of the Naval Staff, with effect from 1 May 2024.

Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi PVSM, AVSM, NM
Official portrait, 2024
26th Chief of the Naval Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 April 2024 (2024-04-30)
President	Droupadi Murmu
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	R. Hari Kumar
38th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
In office 3 January 2024 – 30 April 2024
Preceded by	Sanjay Jasjit Singh
Succeeded by	Krishna Swaminathan
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command
In office 1 March 2023 – 2 January 2024
Preceded by	Ajendra Bahadur Singh
Succeeded by	Sanjay Jasjit Singh
Personal details
Born	(1964-05-15) 15 May 1964 (age 59)
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Navy
Years of service	July 1985 - present
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Western Naval Command Indian Naval Academy Eastern Fleet INS Trishul (F43) INS Kirch (P62) INS Vinash (K47)
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal

Early life and education

Tripathi completed his schooling from the Sainik School Rewa (Satpura House), and graduated from National Defence Academy, Pune.

Naval career

Tripathi was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the Executive branch on 1 July 1985. He is a specialist in Communication and Electronic warfare. In the early years of his career, he served as the Signals Communication officer and Electronic Warfare Officer of the Guided missile destroyer, INS Mumbai (D62). He completed the staff course at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington where he won the Thimayya Medal, and the higher command course at the College of Naval Warfare. He has also attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in the United States when he was awarded the Robert E. Bateman International Prize.^[4]

Tripathi has commanded the Veer-class missile vessel INS Vinash (K47) and the Kora-class corvette INS Kirch (P62). He was in command of the Kirch during the Review of the Fleet by the President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2005. He also served as the executive officer of the Delhi-class Guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai (D62).^[4] He subsequently commanded the Talwar-class Guided missile frigate INS Trishul (F43).^[5]

In his staff appointments, Tripathi has served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and as the Director of Naval Operations. As a Commodore, he served as the Principal Director Network Centric Operations and as the Principal Director Naval Plans, both at Naval HQ.^[6]

Flag rank

On promotion to Flag rank, Tripathi took over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval HQ. He then assumed the office of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet on 15 January 2018.^[6] For his command of the Eastern Fleet, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2019.^[7]

On 12 June 2019, on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, Tripathy took over as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy from Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit.^[5][8] Under him, the INA was presented with the President's Colour, on 20 November 2019. On 13 August 2020, he assumed charge as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) at Naval HQ. He served as the DGNO during the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[9]

He assumed the charge of Chief of Personnel on 1 June 2021 succeeding Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh.^[10] After about 2 years as COP, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. He took over from Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh on 1 March 2023.^[11]

He was appointed as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Staff on 5 December 2023. He assumed the post on 4 January 2024 succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.^[12][13][14] On 26 January 2024, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.^[15]

Chief of Naval Staff

On 19 April 2024, the Government of India announced that Tripathi would take over as the next Chief of the Naval Staff when Admiral R. Hari Kumar retires on 30 April 2024.^[16] He took over as the 26th 26th Chief of Naval Staff on 30th April 2024.^[17]

Personal life

Tripathi is married to Shashi Tripathi, an artist and homemaker. The couple have a son, a lawyer.^[18]

Awards and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Nau Sena Medal	Samanya Seva Medal
Operation Vijay Medal	Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

• Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet
• Eastern Fleet
• Commandant of Indian Naval Academy

References

1. "Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
2. Bureau, The Hindu (30 April 2024). "Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi takes charge as 26th Navy chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
3. Peri, Dinakar (4 January 2024). "Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi appointed as new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
4. "COMMANDANT". www.ina.gov.in. INA.
5. "Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM Assumes Charge as Commandant Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
6. "Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi takes over as Eastern Fleet Commander | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
7. "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Award Winners on Republic Day 2019". pib.gov.in.
8. India, P. I. B. (12 June 2019). "Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM assumes charge as commandant Indian Naval Academy.@indiannavy". @PIB_India.
9. "Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM, Assumes Charge as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO)". www.pib.gov.in.
10. "Big Reshuffle in Naval Headquarters". Bharat Shakti. 29 May 2021.
11. "Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi is new Western Naval Commander". India Today. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
12. "VICE ADMIRAL SANJAY J SINGH TAKES OVER AS FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF, WESTERN NAVAL COMMAND". pib.gov.in.
13. "Major reshuffle in Navy: Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to be new Vice Chief". PTC News. 5 December 2023.
14. Gaurav, Kunal (5 December 2023). "Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to become India's new Vice Chief of Navy Staff".
15. "75th REPUBLIC DAY PRESIDENT APPROVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND GALLANTRY AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
16. "Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
17. "ADMIRAL DINESH K TRIPATHI PVSM, AVSM, NM ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE INDIAN NAVY AS 26th CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
18. "Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi Takes Over as Flag Officer Commanding-IN-Chief, Western Naval Command". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by Ajendra Bahadur Singh	Commanding Officer INS Trishul 2006 - 2007	Succeeded by Sanjay Jasjit Singh
Preceded by Biswajit Dasgupta	Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet 2018 - 2019	Succeeded by Suraj Berry
Preceded by R. B. Pandit	Commandant, Indian Naval Academy June 2019 - July 2020	Succeeded by M. A. Hampiholi
Preceded by M. A. Hampiholi	Director General Naval Operations 2020 - 2021	Succeeded by Rajesh Pendharkar
Preceded by Ravneet Singh	Chief of Personnel 1 June 2021 – 28 February 2023	Succeeded by Suraj Berry
Preceded by Ajendra Bahadur Singh	Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command 1 March 2023 - 3 January 2024	Succeeded by Sanjay Jasjit Singh
Preceded by Sanjay Jasjit Singh	Vice Chief of the Naval Staff 4 January 2024 - 30 April 2024	Succeeded by Krishna Swaminathan
Preceded by R. Hari Kumar	Chief of the Naval Staff 30 April 2024 - Present	Incumbent