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"Har Kaam Desh Ke Nam "
CHIEF HYDROGRAPHER
Vice Admiral Lochan Singh Pathania
Vice Admiral Lochan Singh Pathania took over as Chief Hydrographer to the Govt. of India on 01 Feb 24. The Flag Officer has naval career spanning about four decades with nearly two decades onboard various ships.
Commissioned in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy in 1990, he specialised in Hydrography and has undertaken hydrographic survey in all parts of India and was part of maiden foreign coorporation survey of Oman in 1993. He also participated in surveys of North Sea and Southern Coast of UK onboard Royal Navy ships.
He has commanded INS Darshak and INS Sandhayak. During his command he carried out hydrographic surveys across the entire stretch of A&N Islands and East Coast from Sand Heads to Rameshwaram including challenging task of data collection for IMBL arbitration and for production of new chart in Sundarbans delta.
In ashore capacity he has held various important positions as Interviewing Officer (I0) & Deputy President of Naval Selection Board, Principal Director (Hydrography) at NHQ, Officer-in-Charge, National Hydrographic Office (NHO) and Joint Chief Hydrographer.
He is graduate of Naval Academy and Alumni of International Maritime Academy (IMA), Trieste, Italy, Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad. He holds a Masters degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras and Masters of Management Studies (MMS) from Osmania University.
He is married to Mrs. Chanda Pathania, who is a homemaker. He has two daughters, one is postgraduate in Pyschology & Arts/Animation and younger is post graduate in Commerce & Buddhist studies.
FIRST INDIAN CHIEF HYDROGRAPHER
CAPT JAL CURSETJI
Admiral Jal Cursetji's name is etched in history as the only Chief Hydrographer ever to become the Chief of the Naval Staff. A leader par excellence, he redefined naval leadership with his remarkable career spanning both hydrography and general service.
Commissioned in 1940, he served during World War II and commanded INS Bombay. He was instrumental in planning of setting up a hydrographic office in India. He served as the Surveyor-in-Charge, Marine Survey of India and commanded the survey ship INS Investigator. As a Captain, he became the first Indian Chief Hydrographer (1955–1957). Transitioning to general service, he took on crucial roles – commanding the 11th Destroyer Squadron, INS Vikrant, and serving as India’s first Naval Attaché to Washington D.C.
His strategic brilliance came to the fore in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, where as Chief of Operations, he orchestrated the devastating naval strikes on Karachi and Chittagong. Recognizing his leadership, he was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal.
Climbing the ranks, he became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, before becoming The Chief of the Naval Staff in 1976. His leadership was internationally acknowledged when he became the first Indian to receive the U.S. Legion of Merit in 1978.
From mapping the seas to commanding fleets, Admiral Cursetji’s immense contribution to Indian Navy and hydrography has left behind a remarkable legacy.