K Natarajan takes over as new Coast Guard Commander Western Seaboard

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 15, 2016: The union government on Aug 13,Saturday promoted Krishnaswamy Natarajan to the rank of Additional Director General. Natarajan, assumed charge of the Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard) at Mangaluru.

The Flag Officer will now oversee the strategically important and sensitive coastline of two Coast Guard Regions namely West coast, including Lakshwdeep and Minicoy islands and Northwest (Gujarat). The Flag Officer had joined the Indian Coast Guard on January 1984.

He specialised in Search and Rescue as well as Maritime Safety and Port Operations, from the US Coast Guard Reserve Training Centre, an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College and holds a Masters Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University.

During his service career spanning over 32 years, the Flag Officer, has held important staff and command appointments, both afloat and ashore. The notable appointments include command of all classes of Indian Coast Guard ships, the Commander Coast Guard District No. 5, Tamil Nadu and Commanding Officer ICGS Mandapam, Principal Director (Policy and Plans) and Chairman Coast Guard Service Selection Board. Thus, the Officer has been in all important billets ranging from operations, recruitment, training, administration and projects.

The Flag Officer was instrumental in giving a fillip to the overall growth of the Coast Guard, post 26/11, in terms of assets and infrastructure development including a dedicated Coast Guard Academy as Deputy Director General (Policy and Plans) and in the Coast Guard fraternity is well known for his diligence and high degree of commitment in the progress of the organisation in all facets, specially infrastructure building.   The Flag Officer was the Commander of the Coast Guard Region (Andaman and Nicobar) and the Commander Coast Guard Region (West) prior taking over the helm of Coast Guard Western Sea Board.