ISLAMABAD: The President has designated Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the next Chief of Naval Staff and conferred upon him the rank of Admiral, as confirmed by a Pakistan Navy spokesperson on Tuesday.
The incoming Chief of Naval Staff will formally assume the title of Admiral on October 7. He will also take over the responsibilities from the outgoing Naval Chief, Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, during the change of command ceremony scheduled for the same day.
The President’s decision to appoint Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the Naval Chief came after a recommendation from the caretaker Prime Minister, who chose him from among five vice admirals.
Currently serving as the Chief of Staff at Naval Headquarters, Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf holds the highest seniority among the three-star officers in the Pakistan Navy.
Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf possesses extensive experience in significant command and staff roles. He has previously served as the Commander of the Pakistan Fleet and as the Commandant of the Pakistan Naval Academy.
His career has also included positions such as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Operations, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Training and Personnel, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Administration, and Deputy President of the National Defence University.
Throughout his distinguished naval career, Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf has undertaken various command and staff appointments. He has commanded a gunboat, a mine hunter, three destroyers, and led the 25th and 18th Destroyer Squadrons.
Additionally, Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf has served as the Commandant of Pakistan Naval Academy and had the honor of commanding the Pakistan Navy Fleet.
His significant staff roles encompass Fleet Operations Officer at the HQ Commander Pakistan Fleet, Captain Training at HQ Flag Officer Sea Training, Chief Staff Officer to Task Force-151 at HQ NAVCENT Bahrain, Deputy President of the National Defence University, Naval Secretary, Director General C4I, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Training and Personnel, and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Operations.
The newly-appointed Naval Chief is a graduate of the Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore, National Defence University Islamabad, Naval Staff College in the US, and Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
