Devendra Kumar Joshi

Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi PVSM AVSM (born 4 July 1954) is the Indian Chief of Naval Staff, having assumed office on 31 August 2012. He is a specialist in anti-submarine warfare.

Early life
Joshi graduated from naval academy, the Naval War College, USA, the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

Personal life
He is married to Mrs Chitra Joshi and the couple have two daughters.

Military career
Joshi has served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. His Sea Commands include guided missile corvette INS Kuthar, guided missile destroyer INS Ranvir and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, during which he was awarded Nausena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal respectively. He subsequently commanded the Eastern Fleet, wherein he was awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM).

After his elevation to Flag rank, Joshi served in the Integrated Headquarters in all nodal Branches. In the Personnel Branch as the Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development), in Warship Production and Acquisition as the Assistant Controller of the Aircraft Carrier Programme (ACCP), and thereafter in the Operations Branch both as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Information Warfare and Operations) and as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

Before taking over as the FOC-in-C Western Naval Command, he contributed towards inter-service integration, first as the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-service integrated Command. He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) during this time. Later, he served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).

Joshi was also the Defence Advisor in the Indian High Commission at Singapore from 1996 to 1999.