Deputy Director General Mr Rameshwar Singh, on promotion, assumed charge as the Director General of Coast Guard on March 7. He succeeded Vice Admiral John C DeSilva who was reverted on reversion to Navy as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Visakapatnam. This is the first time that a Coast Guard officer has assumed the charge as Director General, Coast Guard.

Mr Rameshwar Singh is an alumnus of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi and a graduate of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July, 1962. He joined the Fleet Air Arm after the observers’ training in the Indian Air Force and later specialised in signal communications. On graduation from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he was appointed in Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.

He was permanently seconded to the Coast Guard in February 1982 and held the appointment of the Director (operations) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi till 1987. During the period 1982-87, the Coast Guard inducted the first of the inshore patrol vessels (IPV), offshore patrol vessel (OPV), F-27 and Chetak helicopter into service. He later commanded the Coast Guard ship Vijaya from 1987-1990. Under his command, the Coast Guard witnessed a record haul of gold, silver and contrabands to the tune of rupees 11 crore. He has also specialised in Marine Pollution and Search and Rescue (SAR) from the National Search and Rescue School, USA.