Vice Admiral MS Pawar 'swallowed the anchor' in May 2021 as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff after four decades in whites. His tenure saw the Indian Navy 'stood to' - ready for combat, against adversaries on both the fronts after Balakot air strikes and the Galwan crisis. His 'watch' witnessed the Indian Navy commencing Operation 'Sankalp' in the Persian Gulf after the US-Iran crisis, Launched Operation 'Samudra Setu' for evacuation of Indian citizens from neighboring countries at the peak of Covid 19 Pandemic and executed 'Mission Sagar' for providing assistance to countries in IOR.
He was awarded Binoculars for the 'Best All Round Cadet', has the distinction of over 25 years 'Sea Service'- the maximum amongst officers and has served as a Flag Officer in all the three Naval Commands including the as the Chief of Staff of Eastern and Southern Naval Commands, Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commaning Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area and Director General Project Seabird - devoted to building the largest Naval Base in the country at Karwar.
On deputation to Mauritius, he Commanded the National Coast Guard Ship Vigilant and the No 1 Patrol Vessel Squadron. He was also the Commandant of the NCG Mauritius in 2003.
He was the Navigating officer of INS Magar during OP Pawan in Sri Lanka and the Fleet Navigator of Western Fleet during the Kargil War.
An MPhil from the Universities of Madras and Mumbai, he is an alumnus of Royal Navy Staff College Greenwich, National Defence College, New Delhi and Naval War College, Mumbai. He has won awards at each of these institutions including the prestigious Herbert Lott Prize at Greenwich, UK.
His Presidential awards include PVSM in 2021, AVSM in 2016 and VSM in 2011. He was awarded Commendation by the Chief of Naval Staff in 1998 and by the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius in 2003.
He can be reached at: contact@bharatshakti.in
