Kochi: Captain Simon Mathai on Thursday assumed Office as Naval Officer in Charge, Kerala.
He took over from Commodore MR Ajayakumar, who will continue to be Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy.
The Naval Officer in Charge Kerala is responsible to the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command for the coastal defence of Kerala, a Naval press release said.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1990, Capt Mathai is a gunnery specialist and an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. His sea tenures include commands of warships Chamak and Magar.
Captain Mathai served as Command Gunnery Officer of Eastern Naval Command when he was appointed as Naval Officer in Charge Kerala. He has also been awarded the Nao Sena Medal.
PTI
