New Delhi: Rear Admiral Manoj Jha has assumed charge as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), marking another significant milestone in a distinguished naval career spanning three decades.
The appointment reflects the Navy’s continued emphasis on operational excellence, leadership depth, and strategic preparedness in the Eastern maritime theatre.
A Distinguished Career Since 1995
Rear Admiral Manoj Jha was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1995. An accomplished officer, he is an alumnus of the Naval Academy, Goa, Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Naval War College (NWC), Goa, and the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), United Kingdom — institutions renowned for producing some of the finest military leaders.
A Gunnery specialist, Rear Admiral Jha has held several prestigious afloat and ashore appointments, contributing to critical operational and strategic functions of the Navy.
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Key Command and Operational Appointments
In his illustrious career, Rear Admiral Jha has commanded some of the Indian Navy’s most significant platforms. He was the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the first Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette INS Kamorta, reflecting his operational acumen and leadership during induction of frontline assets.
He also commanded the Destroyer INS Chennai and served as Executive Officer of Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat, one of India’s most iconic warships. These appointments highlight his wide operational experience and expertise in handling complex maritime missions.
Strategic Roles at Naval Headquarters
Prior to taking over his current assignment at ENC, Rear Admiral Manoj Jha held key appointments at Naval Headquarters (NHQ). He served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communications, Signals & Network Centric Operations) [ACNS (CS NCO)] and as Commodore (Personnel) [Cmde (Pers)].
In these roles, he contributed significantly to strengthening operational communication networks, personnel policies, and the Navy’s network-centric warfare capabilities, ensuring seamless coordination across commands.
Leading Operations at Eastern Naval Command
As Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Rear Admiral Jha will play a pivotal role in overseeing and coordinating operational activities of the Eastern Naval Command. ENC, headquartered at Visakhapatnam, is a critical operational formation of the Indian Navy, responsible for safeguarding India’s eastern seaboard, maritime interests, and strategic assets in the Bay of Bengal and beyond.
His vast experience in both operational and strategic domains is expected to further enhance the combat readiness, interoperability, and maritime domain awareness of the Command.
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