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 26th Chief of Naval Staff. 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, as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and as the Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO). On 19 April 2024, he was appointed the next Chief of the Naval Staff succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar.

Early life and education
Admiral Tripathi completed his schooling from the Sainik School Rewa (Satpura House), and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune. 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
He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the Executive branch 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.

Adm Tripathi has commanded the Veer-class missile vessel INS Vinash and the Kora-class corvette INS Kirch. 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. He subsequently commanded the Talwar-class Guided missile frigate INS Trishul.

In his staff appointments, he 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, Adm Tripathi 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 12 June 2019, on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, 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 5 December 2023, he was appointed as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Staff. On 4 January 2024, he took over as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. On 26 January 2024, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

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 succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar when the incumbent retires on 30 April 2024. He took over as the 26th Chief of Naval Staff on 30th April 2024.

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