PRESIDENTIAL HYDROGRAPHER FOR THE GOVT. OF INDIA
On February 1, 24, Vice Admiral Lochan Singh Pathania became the Government of India’s Chief Hydrographer. He was commissioned in 1990 as a Hydrography Specialist in the Executive arm of the Indian Navy. Darshak and Sandhayak, two IN Ships under the direction of the flag officer. Over the course of his more than thirty-year career, he completed hydrographic surveys throughout the nation and in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), taking on the difficult task of gathering data for IMBL arbitration and the creation of new charts in the Sundarbans delta. In addition, he holds the honor of serving aboard the Royal Navy’s HMS Bulldog.
He has held a number of significant shore postings, including those of Joint Chief Hydrographer, Officer-in-Charge of the National Hydrographic Office (NHO), Principal Director (Hydrography) at NHQ, and Interviewing Officer & Deputy President of the Naval Selection Board.
The flag officer attended the International Maritime Academy (IMO), in Trieste, Italy, the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), in Wellington, and the College of Defence Management (CDM), in Secunderabad. He also graduated from the Naval Academy. He graduated from Osmania University with a master’s degree in management studies (MMS) and the University of Madras with a master’s degree in defense and strategic studies. The Admiral has made significant contributions to the resolution of issues relating to maritime boundaries and the settlement of Extended Continental Shelf beyond Exclusive Economic Zone. He is an expert in international maritime laws dealing to maritime boundary delimitation.
