Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai today took over as the 9th chief of Staff (COS), Andaman and Nicobar Command from Rear Admiral Karambir Singh, defence sources said.
Prior to taking over as COS of Andaman and Nicobar Command, Rear Admiral Pillai was the Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area (FOGA) and Flag Officer Naval Aviation, the sources said
Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla was commissioned into the Navy in 1980. A specialist Naval Aviator, he has a flying experience of over 3000 hours on diverse Naval aircraft and is a Qualified Flying Instructor, they said.
He has also commanded the Naval Air Station, INS Garuda at Kochi and has served on the faculty of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
He is a graduate of the Naval Higher Command Course, the National Defence College and is a Fellow of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, USA.
Rear Admiral Karambir Singh is proceeding to Western Naval Command as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Area (FOMAG).