Rear Admiral Puneet Kumar Bahl today assumed charge as the Flag Officer Naval Aviation and Flag Officer Goa Area, an official statement said here.
Bahl, commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1984 and an alumnus of NDA, Khadakvasala, will be replacing Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh, who will be taking over as Fleet Commander of the Western Fleet shortly, according to an official press release.
He has undertaken the staff course at DSSC Wellington and the Naval Higher Command Course at The College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.
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An experienced MR pilot, he has flown six different types of aircraft. His operational experience includes active participation in flying operations in OP Tasha and OP Vijay.
He is also a qualified ships diver. The Admiral has also held a wide array of challenging operational, staff and training assignments, it said.
Prior to his elevation to Flag Rank, he was the Commanding Officer of INS Rajali, one of the premier strategic airbases of the country, from October 2011 to January 2015.
During this assignment, Admiral Bahl successfully oversaw the smooth induction and operationalisation of the state-of-the-art Boeing P8I Long Range Maritime ASW aircraft.
He has also commanded the guided missile frigate INS Betwa and offshore patrol vessel INS Sujata.
The Admiral was also based at Tokyo in the Embassy as the Defence Attache for Japan with concurrent accreditation to Republic of Korea, where he was instrumental in coordinating and facilitating a landmark Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between India and Japan.
He also ensured enhanced training exchanges of India with Japan and ROK Armed Forces respectively.
His Training assignments include tenures as Directing Staff at DSSC Wellington and Captain Aviation Training at Headquarters Naval Aviation at Goa.
His staff assignments include tenure as JDNAS (Aviation Plans), at New Delhi, where he successfully steered cases for aircraft inductions and drafted the Naval Aviation component of Naval Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan.
He also drafted the Naval Aviation Infrastructure Perspective Plan. He has had tenures at INS Garuda, INS Rajali, AFS Yelhanka and CGAS 700, whilst on flying duties.
Upon his elevation to the Flag Rank on January 30 this year, he took over as Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff at New Delhi.
The Flag Officer was awarded with Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015, commendation by the Chief of Naval Staff in 2005 and Lentaigne Medal at DSSC Wellington in 1988.
