{{short description|Vice Chief of the India Naval Staff}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral | name = G. Ashok Kumar | honorific_suffix = PVSM, AVSM, VSM | image = File:Vice_Admiral_G_Ashok_Kumar,_AVSM,_VSM_assumes_charge_as_Vice_Chief_of_the_Naval_Staff,_Indian_Navy.jpg | caption = | image_size = | alt = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | other_name = | nickname = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{birth date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} if dead --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | death_place = | burial_label = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{navy|India}} | service_years = 1 July 1982 - 31 July 2021 | service_years_label = | rank = 20px 20px Vice Admiral | rank_label = | service_number = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records --> | unit = | commands = {{ plainlist| *INS Ranvir *INS Kulish }} | battles_label = | battles = | awards = 20px Param Vishisht Seva Medal <br> 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal <br> 20px Vishisht Seva Medal | memorials = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }}
Vice Admiral '''G. Ashok Kumar''' PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a retired Flag Officer in the Indian Navy, who is currently appointed as the first National Maritime Security Coordinator. He works within the National Security Council Secretariat under the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Post of Maritime Security Advisor created, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar to don the role|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/feb/17/post-of-maritime-security-advisor-createdvice-admiral-g-ashok-kumar-to-don-the-role-2420405.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> He served as the 35th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He assumed the position on 30 January 2019 from Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar who took over the Western Naval Command. He retired on 31 July 2021 after 39 years of service. He is succeeded by Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vice-admiral-sn-ghormade-to-take-charge-as-indian-navy-vice-chief-on-saturday/articleshow/84899950.cms|title=Vice Admiral SN Ghormade to take charge as Indian Navy|publisher=Times of India|date=2021-07-31}}</ref>
== Early life and education == He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravathinagar, Tamil Nadu, where he was the house captain of Chera House. He then entered the National Defence Academy, Pune.<ref name=VCI>{{cite web |title=Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/node/359 |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>
== Career == Kumar was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Navy on 1 July 1982. He is a navigation specialist. He completed his specialisation at Kochi in 1989. Post this, he served as a Navigation Officer of the frigates {{INS|Beas|1958|6}} and {{INS|Nilgiri|F33|6}}, the destroyer {{INS|Ranvir}} and the aircraft carrier {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}.<ref name=VCI />
During his career, he has attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command Course at the Army War College, Mhow and the Expeditionary Operations course at Quantico, Virginia.<ref name=PIB>{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL G ASHOK KUMAR, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=145996 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
Kumar has commanded the Kora-class corvette INS Kulish (P63) and the Destroyer INS Ranvir. He has also served as the Executive Officer of INS Brahmaputra. Ashore, he has served as the Head of Training Team (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India in Singapore and the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.
===Flag rank=== After Kumar was promoted to flag rank as a Rear Admiral, he has held the appointments of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat (FOMAG).<ref name=VCI /> In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has served as the Commandant of his alma mater - the National Defence Academy<ref>{{cite web |title=Commandants Gallery |url=https://nda.nic.in/comdt_gallery.html}}</ref> and as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.<ref name=PIB />
On 30 January 2019, Kumar was appointed the 35th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He took over from Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P who took over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-ajit-kumar-p-assumes-charge-flag-officer-commanding-chief-western-naval-command |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar took over as the first National Maritime Security Coordinator of India on 16 Feb 2022.
== Awards and decorations == Kumar has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Parakram_medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Sainya_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_30_Years_Long_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- | |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} | |}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |Param Vishisht Seva Medal |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Vishisht Seva Medal |Samanya Seva Medal |- |Operation Parakram Medal |Sainya Seva Medal |50th Anniversary of Independence Medal |30 Years Long Service Medal |- | |20 Years Long Service Medal |9 Years Long Service Medal | |}
== Personal life == He and his wife Ms. Geetha Ashok have two daughters - Shruti and Swati
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Harish Bisht}} {{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Sea Training|years=2011 - 2012}} {{s-aft|after= S. K. Grewal}} {{s-bef | before = Karambir Singh}} {{s-ttl | title = Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area | years =2013 - 2014}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after= Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar}} {{s-bef|before=R. Hari Kumar}} {{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Sea Training|years=2014 - 2015}} {{s-bef|before=Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria}} {{s-ttl|title=Commandant of the National Defence Academy|years=2015 - 2016}} {{s-aft|after= Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler}} {{s-bef | before = Karambir Singh}} {{s-ttl | title = Deputy Chief of Naval Staff | years = 2016 - 2019}} {{s-aft | after = Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar }} {{s-bef | before = Ajit Kumar P}} {{s-ttl | title = Vice Chief of Naval Staff | years =2019 - 2021}} {{s-aft | after = Satish Namdeo Ghormade}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, G. Ashok}} Category:Sainik School alumni Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Staff (India) Category:Deputy chiefs of Naval Staff (India) Category:Indian Navy vice admirals Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni Category:Commandants of the National Defence Academy Category:Flag Officers Sea Training Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal Category:Army War College, Mhow alumni Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Flag Officers Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area