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			{{Short description\|Former Chief of the Indian Navy}}
	{{for\|the educator\|Arun Prakash (educator)}}		{{for\|the educator\|Arun Prakash (educator)}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=April 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=April 2018}}
	{{Infobox ~~military person~~		{{Infobox officeholder
	\| honorific_prefix = ]		\| honorific_prefix = ]
			\| office1 = 18th ]
			\| termstart1 = 31 July 2004
			\| termend1 = 31 October 2006
			\| president1 = ]<br/>]
			\| primeminister1 = ]
			\| predecessor1 = ]
			\| successor1 = ]
	\| name = Arun Prakash		\| name = Arun Prakash
	\| honorific_suffix = ], ], ], ]		\| honorific_suffix = ], ], ], ]
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	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| allegiance = {{flag\|India}}		\| allegiance = {{flag\|India}}
	\| branch = {{~~flagicon image~~\|~~Naval Ensign of~~ India~~.svg~~}} ]		\| branch = {{navy\|India}}
	\| rank = ] ]		\| rank = ] ]
	]		]
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	\| birth_place = ], ]		\| birth_place = ], ]
	\| death_place =		\| death_place =
			\| serviceyears = 1966–2006
	\| laterwork =		\| laterwork =
	\| awards = ] ]<br/>] ]<br/>] ]<br/>] ]		\| awards = ] ]<br/>] ]<br/>] ]<br/>] ]
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	] '''Arun Prakash''', ], ], ], ] (born October 1944) is a former Flag Officer of the ]. He served as the ] from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006 and as the ] from 31 January 2005 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia />		] '''Arun Prakash''', ], ], ], ] (born October 1944) is a former Flag Officer of the ]. He served as the ] from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006 and as the ] from 31 January 2005 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia />

	Prakash was born in a military family and raised in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined the ], graduating in 1964. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1966. Trained as a ], he served on India's first ] {{~~ship\|~~INS\|Vikrant\|~~R11~~}}. During the ], he was attached ~~with~~ the ]. He was awarded the ] for leading airstrikes deep into enemy territory.		Prakash was born in a military family and raised in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined the ], graduating in 1964. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1966. Trained as a ], he served on India's first ] {{INS\|Vikrant\|1961\|6}}. During the ], he was attached to the ]. He was awarded the ] for leading airstrikes deep into enemy territory.

	After the war, in 1976, he attended the ]. He subsequently commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Chatak\|K96}}. He also commanded the naval squadron ] and led its conversion to the ]. He then commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Beas\|1958}} which was converted to a training ship. He also commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Vindhyagiri\|F42}}. In 1990, he was appointed the third ] of the aircraft carrier {{ship\|INS\|Viraat\|R22}}. As a ~~Commodore~~, He also commanded the ] ] in Goa.		After the war, in 1976, he attended the ]. He subsequently commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Chatak\|K96}}. He also commanded the naval squadron ] and led its conversion to the ]. He then commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Beas\|1958}} which was converted to a training ship. He also commanded the ] {{ship\|INS\|Vindhyagiri\|F42}}. In 1990, he was appointed the third ] of the aircraft carrier {{ship\|INS\|Viraat\|R22}}. As a commodore, He also commanded the ] ] in Goa.

	Prakash was promoted to ~~Flag~~ rank in 1993 and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air). In 1995, he took command of the ] as the 21st ] (FOCEF). After a two-year stint, he took over as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP). Promoted to ~~Vice~~ ~~Admiral~~, he served as the ] from 1997 to 1999, after which he took over as ] at Naval HQ. In 2001, he was appointed the first ] of the newly-created ]. He subsequently had stints as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief ] and ].		Prakash was promoted to flag rank in 1993 and appointed ] (Air) (ACNS Air). In 1995, he took command of the ] as the 21st ] (FOCEF). After a two-year stint, he took over as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP). Promoted to vice admiral, he served as the ] from 1997 to 1999, after which he took over as ] at Naval HQ. In 2001, he was appointed the first ] of the newly created ]. He subsequently had stints as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief ] and ].

	On 31 July 2004, Prakash assumed office as the 18th ~~Chief~~ of the Naval Staff. He took over as the ] on 31 January 2005 from ] ].		On 31 July 2004, Prakash assumed office as the 18th chief of the Naval Staff. He took over as the ] on 31 January 2005 from ] ].

	==Early life and education==		==Early life and education==
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	==Career==		==Career==
	===Early career===		===Early career===
	Prakash was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an acting sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1966.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=439 \|date=30 July 1966 \|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1664-1966-0031-75895.pdf\|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He specialised in ], qualifying as a pilot in the ] jet fighter, flying from the deck of the ] ] in 1968. As a junior officer, he served afloat in ''Vikrant'', {{INS\|Kirpan\|1959\|6}}, and ]. His assignments in naval aviation included flying Islander aircraft with ], ] and ] aircraft with ], and ] aircraft with ].		Prakash was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an acting sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1966.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=439 \|date=30 July 1966 \|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1664-1966-0031-75895.pdf\|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He specialised in ], qualifying as a pilot in the ] jet fighter, flying from the deck of the ] {{INS\|Vikrant\|1961\|6}} in 1968. As a junior officer, he served afloat in ''Vikrant'', {{INS\|Kirpan\|1959\|6}}, and ]. His assignments in naval aviation included flying Islander aircraft with ], ] and ] aircraft with ], and ] aircraft with ].

	===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===		===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
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	The Vir Chakra citation reads:		The Vir Chakra citation reads:
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	<center>'''CITATION'''<br>		{{center\|'''CITATION'''<br>
	'''LIEUTENANT ARUN PRAKASH, (00590-R)'''~~</center>~~		'''LIEUTENANT ARUN PRAKASH, (00590-R)'''}}

	During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Lieutenant Arun ~~Parkash~~ was a deputation to the Indian Air Force. On ~~the 4th~~ December~~, 1971,~~ he led an Indian Air Force ~~strikes~~ mission to an enemy airfield. In this mission, he destroyed ~~enemy’s~~ heavy transport on ground and returned to base. On ~~the 5th~~ December~~, 1971,~~ he led a very deep penetration day operational strike into enemy territory and attacked ~~enemy air-fields~~ heavily defended by air and ground forces. It destroyed ~~enemy’s~~ ~~Heavy~~ ~~Transport~~ ~~Aircraft~~, attacked troops and supplies and returned to base.		During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Lieutenant Arun Prakash was one of the two naval pilots on deputation to the Indian Air Force. On 4 December he led an Indian Air Force strike mission to an enemy airfield. In this mission, he destroyed enemy's heavy transport on ground and returned to base. On 5 December he led a very deep penetration day operational strike into enemy territory and attacked airfields heavily defended by air and ground forces. He destroyed enemy's heavy transport aircraft, attacked troops and supplies and returned to base.

	Throughout, Lieutenant Arun ~~Parkash~~ displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.<ref>{{cite web \|title=ARUN PRAKASH {{!}} Gallantry Awards \|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/arun-prakash \|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>		Throughout, Lieutenant Arun Prakash displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.<ref>{{cite web \|title=ARUN PRAKASH {{!}} Gallantry Awards \|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/arun-prakash \|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	]		]

	===Post-War===		===Post-War===
	Promoted to ] on 1 May 1976,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1668 \|date=4 December 1976 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he flew the ] that year for maritime air reconnaissance with ]. He later commanded the missile boat ], the training frigate {{INS\|Beas\|1958\|6}}, the antisubmarine warfare frigate ], and the aircraft carrier ].<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu />		Promoted to ] on 1 May 1976,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1668 \|date=4 December 1976 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he flew the ] that year for maritime air reconnaissance with ]. He later commanded the missile boat ], the training frigate {{INS\|Beas\|1958\|6}}, the antisubmarine warfare frigate {{INS\|Vindhyagiri\|F42\|6}}, and the aircraft carrier ].<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu />

	He was promoted to ] on 1 July 1980,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=188 \|date=14 February 1981 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and in 1983, while in command of ], he supervised the training of Indian Navy crew members in the ] for the ] and ferried the newly acquired aircraft back to India. He commanded two Air Squadrons and the naval air station ]. In his aviation assignments, he logged more than 2,500 hours in the air in single and multi-engined, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft.<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu>{{citation\|title=Arun Prakash next Naval Chief\|work=]\|date=2 June 2004\|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612074528/http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=12 June 2004\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He was promoted to ] on 1 July 1986.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=903 \|date=27 June 1987 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>		He was promoted to ] on 1 July 1980,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=188 \|date=14 February 1981 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and in 1983, while in command of ], he supervised the training of Indian Navy crew members in the ] for the ] and ferried the newly acquired aircraft back to India. He commanded two Air Squadrons and the naval air station ]. In his aviation assignments, he logged more than 2,500 hours in the air in single and multi-engined, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft.<ref name=NextNavalChiefTheHindu>{{citation\|title=Arun Prakash next Naval Chief\|work=]\|date=2 June 2004\|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612074528/http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/02/stories/2004060202191300.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=12 June 2004\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He was promoted to ] on 1 July 1986.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=903 \|date=27 June 1987 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> In 1992, he was appointed Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff ] ].<ref>{{cite web \|title=Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas: A war hero and champion of human rights \|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/admiral-laxminarayan-ramdas-a-war-hero-and-champion-of-human-rights-9219051/ \|website=The Indian Express \|access-date=19 March 2024 \|language=en \|date=17 March 2024}}</ref>

	===Flag Rank===		===Flag Rank===
	On 4 January 1993, Prakash was promoted to the rank of ] and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air).<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1607 \|date=25 November 1995 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> On 1 April 1995, after a two-year stint as ACNS, he was appointed the 21st ]. He was in command of the ] for about a year-and-a-half. In late-1996, he moved to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP).		On 4 January 1993, Prakash was promoted to the rank of ] and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air).<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1607 \|date=25 November 1995 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> On 1 April 1995, after a two-year stint as ACNS, he was appointed the 21st ]. He was in command of the ] for about a year-and-a-half. In late-1996, he moved to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP).

	] & ] ] ] with ] ] ] in Washington, D.C.]]		] & ] ] Arun Prakash with ] ] ] in Washington, D.C.]]

	He was then promoted to the rank of ] on 31 July 1997,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1124 \|date=21 August 1999 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and took over as the ], an appointment he served in till 19 March 1999. He then moved to NHQ, having been appointed ].<ref>{{cite web \|title=I Reports of the Task Forces on 'Management of Internal Security' and 'Management of Defence' Presented \|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/HOME%20AFFAIR/2000-JULY-DEC-HOME-AFFAIRS/PDF/HOM-2000-10-01_083.pdf \|website=archive.pib.gov.in \|date=1 October 2000}}</ref> In October 2001, he became the first ] of the newly established ]. Then, on 31 December 2002, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) ]. Following this assignment, he was appointed as the ], serving for a brief period from October 2003 to July 2004.		He was then promoted to the rank of ] on 31 July 1997,<ref>{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) \|page=1124 \|date=21 August 1999 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and took over as the ], an appointment he served in till 19 March 1999. He then moved to NHQ, having been appointed ].<ref>{{cite web \|title=I Reports of the Task Forces on 'Management of Internal Security' and 'Management of Defence' Presented \|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/HOME%20AFFAIR/2000-JULY-DEC-HOME-AFFAIRS/PDF/HOM-2000-10-01_083.pdf \|website=archive.pib.gov.in \|date=1 October 2000}}</ref> In October 2001, he became the first ] of the newly established ]. Then, on 31 December 2002, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) ]. Following this assignment, he was appointed the ], serving for a brief period from October 2003 to July 2004.

	===Chief of Naval Staff===		===Chief of Naval Staff===
	Prakash was promoted to Full ] and was appointed the 20th ] on 31 July 2004.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia>{{citation\|title=Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief\|work=]\|date=1 June 2004\|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908044327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=8 September 2012\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> With the retirement of ] ], Admiral Prakash took over as the ] on 31 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Dec 31 \|first1=TNN \| title=Gen Vij new head of chiefs of staff panel {{!}} India News - Times of India \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gen-Vij-new-head-of-chiefs-of-staff-panel/articleshow/976587.cms \|website=The Times of India \|language=en}}</ref> While serving as Chief of Naval Staff, Prakash played an important role in renewing the ]'s relationships with the ]<ref name=BetterRelationsDailyTimes>{{citation\|title=US, India making military deal amid better relations\|work=]\|location=Pakistan\|date=25 March 2005\|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg4_16\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> and in developing a vision of India's maritime strategy. Prakash retired as Chief of Naval Staff in October 2006.<ref name=SureeshMehtaNewNavyChief>{{citation\|title=Sureesh Mehta is new Navy chief\|work=IBN Live\|date=31 October 2006\|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016122233/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=16 October 2012\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He retired from the post of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the same time.		Prakash was promoted to Full ] and was appointed the 20th ] on 31 July 2004.<ref name=NewNavalChiefTimesIndia>{{citation\|title=Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief\|work=]\|date=1 June 2004\|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908044327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-01/india/27163171_1_naval-staff-personnel-at-naval-headquarters-vice-admiral-arun-prakash\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=8 September 2012\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> With the retirement of ] ], Admiral Prakash took over as the ] on 31 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Dec 31 \|first1=TNN \| title=Gen Vij new head of chiefs of staff panel {{!}} India News - Times of India \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gen-Vij-new-head-of-chiefs-of-staff-panel/articleshow/976587.cms \|website=The Times of India \|language=en}}</ref> While serving as Chief of Naval Staff, Prakash played an important role in renewing the ]'s relationships with the ]<ref name=BetterRelationsDailyTimes>{{citation\|title=US, India making military deal amid better relations\|work=]\|location=Pakistan\|date=25 March 2005\|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg4_16\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> and in developing a vision of India's maritime strategy. Prakash retired as Chief of Naval Staff in October 2006.<ref name=SureeshMehtaNewNavyChief>{{citation\|title=Sureesh Mehta is new Navy chief\|work=IBN Live\|date=31 October 2006\|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016122233/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sureesh-mehta-is-new-navy-chief/25112-3.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=16 October 2012\|access-date=10 July 2011}}</ref> He retired from the post of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the same time.

			==Post-retirement==
	==Decorations and Medals==
			Prakash settled in Goa after retiring from the Navy. He was the Distinguished Chair at the ] from 2016 to 2022.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Naval War College \|url=https://twitter.com/InNwc/status/1554152441469251584 \|website=twitter.com \|access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>

			==Awards and decorations==
			Prakash was awarded the ] in 1972, the ] in 1985, the ] in 1991 and the ] in 2002.
	{\| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"		{\| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
	\|{{Ribbon devices\|number=0\|type=award-star\|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg\|width=106}}		\|{{Ribbon devices\|number=0\|type=award-star\|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg\|width=106}}
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Latest revision as of 21:40, 25 August 2024

Former Chief of the Indian Navy For the educator, see Arun Prakash (educator).

AdmiralArun PrakashPVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM


18th Chief of the Naval Staff
In office 31 July 2004 – 31 October 2006
President	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Madhvendra Singh
Succeeded by	Sureesh Mehta

Personal details
Born	October 1944 (age 80) Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Vir Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Navy
Years of service	1966–2006
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Chief of the Naval Staff Western Naval Command Andaman and Nicobar Command Eastern Fleet INS Viraat INS Vindhyagiri INS Beas INS Chatak INS Hansa
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (born October 1944) is a former Flag Officer of the Indian Navy. He served as the Chief of the Naval Staff from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006 and as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 31 January 2005 to 31 October 2006. He is one of India's most decorated naval officers.

Prakash was born in a military family and raised in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined the National Defence Academy, graduating in 1964. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1966. Trained as a naval aviator, he served on India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he was attached to the No. 20 Squadron IAF. He was awarded the Vir Chakra for leading airstrikes deep into enemy territory.

After the war, in 1976, he attended the Indian Air Force Test Pilot School. He subsequently commanded the Chamak-class missile boat INS Chatak (K96). He also commanded the naval squadron INAS 300 and led its conversion to the Sea Harrier. He then commanded the Leopard-class frigate INS Beas (1958) which was converted to a training ship. He also commanded the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Vindhyagiri (F42). In 1990, he was appointed the third commanding officer of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22). As a commodore, He also commanded the naval air station INS Hansa in Goa.

Prakash was promoted to flag rank in 1993 and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air). In 1995, he took command of the Eastern Fleet as the 21st Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF). After a two-year stint, he took over as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP). Promoted to vice admiral, he served as the commandant of the National Defence Academy from 1997 to 1999, after which he took over as Chief of Personnel at Naval HQ. In 2001, he was appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of the newly created Andaman and Nicobar Command. He subsequently had stints as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

On 31 July 2004, Prakash assumed office as the 18th chief of the Naval Staff. He took over as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee on 31 January 2005 from General Nirmal Chander Vij.

Early life and education

Prakash grew up in the Kashmir Valley, where his father rose to be a District Commissioner of Leh. His two elder brothers also joined the Indian Armed Forces, serving in the Indian Army. He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 1964, Indian Air Force Test Pilot School in 1976, the Defence Services Staff College in 1979, and the U.S. Naval War College in 1990.

Career

Early career

Prakash was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an acting sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1966. He specialised in naval aviation, qualifying as a pilot in the Sea Hawk jet fighter, flying from the deck of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in 1968. As a junior officer, he served afloat in Vikrant, INS Kirpan, and INS Delhi. His assignments in naval aviation included flying Islander aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 550, Vampire and Kiran aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 551, and Seahawk aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 300.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

In the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, then Lieutenant Prakash flew Hawker Hunter aircraft for the 20th Squadron Lightnings. For his gallantry in air action over West Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, he received the Vir Chakra.

The Vir Chakra citation reads:

CITATION
LIEUTENANT ARUN PRAKASH, (00590-R)
During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Lieutenant Arun Prakash was one of the two naval pilots on deputation to the Indian Air Force. On 4 December he led an Indian Air Force strike mission to an enemy airfield. In this mission, he destroyed enemy's heavy transport on ground and returned to base. On 5 December he led a very deep penetration day operational strike into enemy territory and attacked airfields heavily defended by air and ground forces. He destroyed enemy's heavy transport aircraft, attacked troops and supplies and returned to base.
Throughout, Lieutenant Arun Prakash displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.

Post-War

Promoted to lieutenant commander on 1 May 1976, he flew the Super Constellation that year for maritime air reconnaissance with Indian Navy Air Squadron 312. He later commanded the missile boat INS Chatak, the training frigate INS Beas, the antisubmarine warfare frigate INS Vindhyagiri, and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

He was promoted to commander on 1 July 1980, and in 1983, while in command of Indian Navy Air Squadron 300, he supervised the training of Indian Navy crew members in the United Kingdom for the Sea Harrier and ferried the newly acquired aircraft back to India. He commanded two Air Squadrons and the naval air station INS Hansa. In his aviation assignments, he logged more than 2,500 hours in the air in single and multi-engined, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft. He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1986. In 1992, he was appointed Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas.

Flag Rank

On 4 January 1993, Prakash was promoted to the rank of rear admiral and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air). On 1 April 1995, after a two-year stint as ACNS, he was appointed the 21st Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. He was in command of the Eastern Fleet for about a year-and-a-half. In late-1996, he moved to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP).

He was then promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 31 July 1997, and took over as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy, an appointment he served in till 19 March 1999. He then moved to NHQ, having been appointed Chief of Personnel. In October 2001, he became the first Commander-in-Chief of the newly established Andaman and Nicobar Command. Then, on 31 December 2002, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command. Following this assignment, he was appointed the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, serving for a brief period from October 2003 to July 2004.

Chief of Naval Staff

Prakash was promoted to Full Admiral and was appointed the 20th Chief of Naval Staff on 31 July 2004. With the retirement of General Nirmal Chander Vij, Admiral Prakash took over as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee on 31 January 2005. While serving as Chief of Naval Staff, Prakash played an important role in renewing the Indian Navy's relationships with the United States Navy and in developing a vision of India's maritime strategy. Prakash retired as Chief of Naval Staff in October 2006. He retired from the post of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the same time.

Post-retirement

Prakash settled in Goa after retiring from the Navy. He was the Distinguished Chair at the Naval War College, Goa from 2016 to 2022.

Awards and decorations

Prakash was awarded the Vir Chakra in 1972, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1985, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1991 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2002.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Vir Chakra	Vishisht Seva Medal
Samar Seva Star	Paschimi Star	Raksha Medal	Sangram Medal
Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	50th Independence Anniversary Medal	25th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal		9 Years Long Service Medal

Published writings

From the Crow's Nest: A Compendium of Speeches and Writings on Maritime and Other Issues, New Delhi: Lancer Publishers, 2007.

References

^ "Arun Prakash to be new Naval Chief", The Times of India, 1 June 2004, archived from the original on 8 September 2012, retrieved 10 July 2011
"Admiral Arun Prakash". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
"PIB". archive.pib.gov.in.
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 July 1966. p. 439.
"ARUN PRAKASH | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 4 December 1976. p. 1668.
^ "Arun Prakash next Naval Chief", The Hindu, 2 June 2004, archived from the original on 12 June 2004, retrieved 10 July 2011
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 14 February 1981. p. 188.
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 27 June 1987. p. 903.
"Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas: A war hero and champion of human rights". The Indian Express. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 25 November 1995. p. 1607.
"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India. 21 August 1999. p. 1124.
"I Reports of the Task Forces on 'Management of Internal Security' and 'Management of Defence' Presented" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 1 October 2000.
Dec 31, TNN. "Gen Vij new head of chiefs of staff panel | India News - Times of India". The Times of India.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
"US, India making military deal amid better relations", Daily Times, Pakistan, 25 March 2005, retrieved 10 July 2011
"Sureesh Mehta is new Navy chief", IBN Live, 31 October 2006, archived from the original on 16 October 2012, retrieved 10 July 2011
"Naval War College". twitter.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

Sources

Official Biography

Military offices
Preceded byMadhvendra Singh	Commanding Officer INS Viraat 1990-1991	Succeeded byMadanjit Singh
Preceded byHarinder Singh	Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet 1995-1996	Succeeded byO. P. Bansal
Preceded byAir Marshal JS Rai	Commandant of the National Defence Academy 1997-1999	Succeeded byLieutenant General SBS Kochar
Preceded byJohn Colin De Silva	Chief of Personnel 1999-2001	Succeeded byMadanjit Singh
New title New office	Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command 2001–2003	Succeeded byO. P. Bansal
Preceded byVinod Pasricha	Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command 2003–2003	Succeeded byMadanjit Singh
Preceded byJohn Colin De Silva	Vice Chief of the Naval Staff 2003–2004	Succeeded byYashwant Prasad
Preceded byMadhvendra Singh	Chief of the Naval Staff 2004–2006	Succeeded bySureesh Mehta
Preceded byNirmal Chander Vij	Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee 2005 - 2006	Succeeded byShashindra Pal Tyagi

v t e Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (1947–2019)	Sir Rob Lockhart Sir Thomas Elmhirst Sir Edward Parry K. M. Cariappa Sir Charles Pizey Subroto Mukerjee Kodandera Subayya Thimayya Ram Dass Katari Aspy Engineer Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri Arjan Singh Adhar Kumar Chatterji Sam Manekshaw Gopal Gurunath Bewoor Om Prakash Mehra Sourendra Nath Kohli Tapishwar Narain Raina Hrushikesh Moolgavkar Jal Cursetji Om Prakash Malhotra Idris Hasan Latif Ronald Lynsdale Pereira K. V. Krishna Rao Dilbagh Singh Oscar Stanley Dawson Arun Shridhar Vaidya Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani Denis La Fontaine Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni Surinder Mehra Sunith Francis Rodrigues Laxminarayan Ramdas Bipin Chandra Joshi S. K. Kaul Vijai Singh Shekhawat Shankar Roychowdhury Satish Sareen Ved Prakash Malik Sushil Kumar Sundararajan Padmanabhan Madhvendra Singh Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy Nirmal Chander Vij Arun Prakash Shashindra Pal Tyagi Joginder Jaswant Singh Sureesh Mehta Deepak Kapoor Pradeep Vasant Naik Nirmal Kumar Verma Norman Anil Kumar Browne Bikram Singh Arup Raha Sunil Lanba Birender Singh Dhanoa Bipin Rawat
Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (2020–2021)	Bipin Rawat
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (2021–2022)	M. M. Naravane (acting)
Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (2022–)	Anil Chauhan
(**Seconded from the British Armed Forces)

v t e Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy
Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1947–1948)	John Talbot Savignac Hall**
Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1948-1950)	John Talbot Savignac Hall Edward Parry
Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (1950-1955)	Edward Parry Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey
Chief of the Naval Staff (1955–present)	Sir Charles Thomas Mark Pizey Sir Stephen Hope Carlill Ram Dass Katari Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman Adhar Kumar Chatterji Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda Sourendra Nath Kohli Jal Cursetji Ronald Lynsdale Pereira Oscar Stanley Dawson Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni Laxminarayan Ramdas Vijai Singh Shekhawat Vishnu Bhagwat Sushil Kumar Madhvendra Singh Arun Prakash Sureesh Mehta Nirmal Kumar Verma Devendra Kumar Joshi Robin K. Dhowan Sunil Lanba Karambir Singh R. Hari Kumar Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (incumbent)
**Seconded from the Royal Navy

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