Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Vishwamitra)

Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
उप-नौसेनाध्यक्ष (Hindi)
Flag of the Royal Navy
Last held by Vice Admiral Thomas Bainbridge 25 August 2021 – 3 January 2022
Royal Vishwamitran Navy
Status	Deputy to the Chief of the Naval Staff
Abbreviation	DCNS
Member of	Royal Vishwamitran Navy
Reports to	Chief of the Naval Staff
Nominator	Minister of Defence
Appointer	The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces at the advice of the Chief of the Naval Staff
Term length	At His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure
Formation	29 May 2021 (as Deputy Commander of the Navy) 25 August 2021 (as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff)
First holder	Rear Admiral Sander Koff (as Deputy Commander of the Navy)
Final holder	Vice Admiral Thomas Bainbridge
Abolished	12 July 2022

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) (Hindi: उप-नौसेनाध्यक्ष‎), formerly known as the Deputy Commander of the Navy was the title of the deputy to the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, the professional head of the Royal Vishwamitran Navy between 2021 and 2022, and was second-in-line in the naval order of seniority. The deputy chief of the naval staff was responsible for assisting the Navy Chief in leading, managing, and overseeing all naval operations, strategies, and administrative matters within the nation. The role of the deputy chief of the naval staff was largely ceremonial.

The position was customarily held by a three-star or junior officer. The first holder of the office was Rear Admiral Sander Koff who served as the Deputy Commander of the Navy following the inception of the office until being promoted as Commander of the Navy replacing Vice Admiral John Caravaggio III who was earlier dismissed. Following his promotion as commander and later re-designation as chief of the naval staff, the position remained vacant until the appointment of Vice Admiral Thomas Bainbridge on 25 August 2021, who served in office until his resignation following appointment as minister on 3 January 2022. The position remained vacant since then until being abolished consequent to the dissolution of the navy on 12 July 2022.

History

The unofficial history behind the position of the deputy chief of the naval staff dates back to 2018 when then Supreme Leader Varuna Sriraya appointed Asmi Patranabis as the Vice Admiral of the Navy effectively making her the ceremonial deputy head of the navy, the naval warfare branch of the armed forces. The position of the deputy head of the Royal Vishwamitran Navy was formally created on 29 May 2021 and Rear Admiral Sander Koff was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Navy. On 9 July 2021, Rear Admiral Koff was appointed as the second commander of the navy and effectively promoted to the rank of vice admiral. Following his promotion, the position became vacant.

On 24 August 2021, at the recommendation of Defence Minister Michal Nowacki and his deputy Rory Leonard, the cabinet decided to promote all the tri-services commanders to a four-star rank in their respective services and designated them as Chiefs of Staff. Thereupon, Vice Admiral Sander Koff was promoted to the rank of an admiral and re-designated as Chief of the Naval Staff and continued to head the navy, which was the naval warfare branch of the armed forces. On 25 August 2021, the position of the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff was created and Vice Admiral Thomas Bainbridge was appointed to the position. He resigned following his appointment as a minister on 3 January 2022.

On 12 July 2022, the air force along with the Royal Vishwamitran Navy were dissolved and the army remained the sole branch and it was renamed as the Royal Vishwamitran Defence Forces.

Appointment

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff was appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the advice of the Chief of the Naval Staff and the nomination by the Minister of Defence. The deputy chief of the naval staff served in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh.

Insignia

Ranks insignia worn by the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
Rear Admiral (OF-7) (2021)		Vice Admiral (OF-6) (2021–2022)

Appointees

Deputy Commander of the Navy (2021)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Rear Admiral Sander Koff Baron Koff of Tallinn (born 2008)	29 May 2021	9 July 2021	7001410000000000000♠41 days	Chief of the Air Force Musical Corps

Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (2021–2022)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Term length	Previous service background
1		Vice Admiral Thomas Bainbridge Baron Bainbridge (born 1994)	25 August 2021	3 January 2022	7002131000000000000♠131 days	None
Position abolished

See also

• Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Vishwamitra), deputy to the chief of the army
• Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Vishwamitra), former deputy to the chief of the air force