Vice Admiral RK Pattanaik, AVSM, YSM took over as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at the Integrated Headquarters Ministry of Defence (Indian Navy) on 31 May 2014 from Vice Admiral PK Chatterjee PVSM, AVSM, NM who has been appointed as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command at Port Blair.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1978, the Admiral is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. A specialist in ‘Gunnery & Missile Warfare’ he has done M. Sc (Defence Studies) and M. Phil whilst in service. He is a graduate of DSSC, Wellington, Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College, New Delhi.
Prior to his elevation to the Flag Rank, he has commanded an ASW Corvette, two Frigates, two Destroyers and the potent ‘Killer Squadron’ during his sea tenures. Besides he has also served as the Command Gunnery Officer and as an instructor in the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, Tamil Nadu.
On promotion to Flag Rank, he has held the prestigious appointments of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) and Chief of Staff (COS) HQWNC before taking over as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). He has also served as Flag Officer Doctrines & Concepts (FODC) at Mumbai. Subsequently, in the rank of Vice Admiral he was posted at the IHQ MoD (Navy) as Controller Personnel Services (CPS). He was Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine Organisation and Training) at Headquarter Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS) prior to his present assignment of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
The Admiral has been commended by the Chief of Naval Staff twice and is a recipient of the prestigious Ati Vishishta Seva Medal (AVSM) and Yudha Seva Medal (YSM) awarded by the Honorable President of India.
[mappress] Press Release, June 02, 2014