KOCHI: Vice-Admiral Satish Soni assumed charge as Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Thursday. He succeeds Vice-Admiral KN Sushil, who retired from the Indian Navy on Thursday after nearly 40 years of service.Commissioned into the Navy in July, 1976, Vice-Admiral Soni is a winner of the ‘Sword of Honour’ and a specialist in navigation and aircraft direction. His important sea commands include commands of Stealth Frigate INS Talwar, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Delhi, Missile Corvette INS Kirpan and the Eastern Fleet.The Vice-Admiral has been Chief of Staff of Eastern Naval Command and Commandant of the National Defence Academy in Pune. He has been honoured with Ati Vishisht Sena Medal and Nao Sena Medal. In his farewell address, Vice-Admiral Sushil exhorted the men on parade to never let their guard down in defending the maritime interests of the country and always uphold the ethos of the Armed Forces.He then received Vice- Admiral Soni after which the Commander-in- Chief designate reviewed the parade.In a symbolic ceremony after the parade, Vice- Admiral Sushil was pulled out in a whaler boat pulled by the senior most officers in the command led by Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande, Chief of Staff, of Southern Naval Command. The farewell from the Naval Base for the Commander-in-Chief was done in a traditional manner with all the senior officers pulling out the Vice-Admiral in a vehicle as personnel lined up on either side and bid adieu.
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