# Dinesh Kumar Tripathi

Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM (born 15 May 1964) is a serving four star flag officer of the Indian Navy. He is the current and the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff. He took over as the 26th CNS succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar on 30 April 2024. He previously served as the 38th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, prior to that he served as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and as the Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO).

## Early life and education

Tripathi is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa. He joined Sainik School, Rewa in July 1973 where he was classmates with Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. He completed the staff course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington where he won the Thimayya Medal, and the higher command course at the College of Naval Warfare. He has also attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in the United States when he was awarded the Robert E. Bateman International Prize.

## Naval career

Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the Executive branch of the Indian Navy on 1 July 1985. He is a specialist in Communication and Electronic warfare. In the early years of his career, he served as the Signals Communication officer and Electronic Warfare Officer of the Guided missile destroyer, INS Mumbai (D62).He has commanded the Veer-class missile vessel INS Vinash (K47) and the Kora-class corvette INS Kirch (P62). He was in command of the Kirch during the Review of the Fleet by the President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2005. He also served as the executive officer of the Delhi-class Guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai (D62). He subsequently commanded the Talwar-class Guided missile frigate INS Trishul (F43). In his staff appointments, Admiral Tripathi has served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and as the Director of Naval Operations. As a Commodore, he served as the Principal Director Network Centric Operations and as the Principal Director Naval Plans, both at Naval HQ.

### Flag rank

On promotion to Flag rank, he took over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval HQ. He then assumed the office of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet on 15 January 2018. For his command of the Eastern Fleet, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2019.
On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, on 12 June 2019 he took over as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy from Vice Admiral R. B. Pandit. Under him, the INA was presented with the President's Colour on 20 November 2019. On 13 August 2020, he assumed charge as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) at Naval HQ. He served as the DGNO during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 1 June 2021, he assumed the charge of Chief of Personnel succeeding Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh. After about 2 years as COP, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. He took over from Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh on 1 March 2023.
On 4 January 2024, Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi took over as the 38th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who moved to Western Naval Command as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.

### Chief of Naval Staff

On 19 April 2024, the Government of India appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi as the next Chief of the Naval Staff. On 30 April 2024, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi took over as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar, who superannuated after more than four decades of service to the nation.

## Personal life

Tripathi is a keen sportsman and avidly follows tennis, badminton, and cricket. He is a student of International Relations, Military History, and the art and science of Leadership. He is married to Shashi Tripathi, an artist and homemaker. The couple have a son who is a practicing lawyer.

## Awards and decorations

For his exemplary service, he has been awarded with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2024 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2019.
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Nau Sena Medal | Samanya Seva Medal |
| Operation Vijay Medal | Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal | 75th Independence Anniversary Medal |
| 50th Independence Anniversary Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal |