Former navy vice chief, Vice Admiral (retd.) G Ashok Kumar took over as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) to strengthen the country’s maritime security. He will report directly to Ajit Doval (NSA). He stepped down as vice head of the navy last year.
Mr Kumar, an alumnus of Sainik School in Amaravathi Nagar, Tamil Nadu, and the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla, Pune. He was commissioned into the navy’s executive branch in July 1982.