R. B. Pandit

Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit, AVSM is a serving Flag Officer in the Indian Navy. He is the current Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command. He assumed the position on 16 July 2019 from Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh.

Career
Pandit graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy in July 1984. He is an Anti-submarine warfare specialist.

During his career, he has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.

Adm Pandit has commanded the Veer-class corvette INS Nirghat, the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Vindhyagiri and the only Amphibious transport dock of the Indian Navy - the INS Jalashwa. He has also commanded the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron. After promotion to the flag rank of Rear Admiral, Pandit commanded the Western Fleet.

Ashore, he has served as the Naval Advisor at the High Commission of India, Islamabad in Pakistan, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) at the Naval Headquarters and the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.

In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala before taking over as the Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command.

Awards and decorations
Adm Pandit has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.