Rear Admiral MS Pawar has assumed office as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command. Commissioned in July, 1982 and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Rear Admiral Pawar is a navigation and direction specialist. His sea tenures included among others commands of missile boat INS Nashak, missile corvette INS Kuthar, stealth frigate INS Talwar and Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet, a Navy release said.
Rear Admiral Pawar was the Flag Officer Sea Training of the Navy prior to his present appointment wherein he certified the war fighting efficiency of frontline warships of the force.
His academic credentials included a double M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from the universities of Mumbai and Madras and the Herbert lott Prize at the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich. Rear Admiral Pawar was honoured with Vishisht Seva Medal in 2010, the release said.