Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi takes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
New Delhi: Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi took charge as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff on Thursday. Prior to his present appointment, Vice Admiral Tripathi served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Western Naval Command. An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defense Academy, Khadakwasla, Vice Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1985. With expertise in communications and electronic warfare, he has an illustrious career serving on frontline warships, including stints as a Signal Communications Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer.
Vice Admiral Tripathi demonstrated his leadership and operational skills when he commanded Indian Naval Ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. Throughout his career, he has held various important operational and staff positions, such as Fleet Operations Officer, Western Fleet in Mumbai and Principal Director of Network Centric Operations in New Delhi. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at NHQ and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. In June 2019, upon reaching the rank of Vice Admiral, he took up the role of Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. Subsequently, he held the post of Director General of Naval Operations from July 2020 to May 2021. He ensured that the Navy remains a ‘combat ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force’, ready to deal with multiple complex security challenges despite the all-round severity posed by the COVID pandemic. His service as Chief of Personnel continued from June 2021 to February 2023.
Vice Admiral Tripathi has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Nau Sena Medal (NM) for his devotion to duty. Vice Admiral Tripathi is a graduate of the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, and attended the Naval Higher Command Course and Naval Command College at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Islands. During his tenure at the Defense Services Staff College he received the prestigious Thimayya Medal and during his tenure at the US Naval War College he was awarded the Robert E. Bateman International Award. Apart from his military achievements, Vice Admiral Tripathi is known for his enthusiasm for sports, especially tennis, badminton and cricket. Flag officers are also keen students of international relations, military history and the art and science of leadership. He is married to Shashi Tripathi, an artist and housewife. The couple has a son, who is a lawyer by profession, and is married to Tanya, who works in the policy-making sector.
