Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM recently assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command(ENC). 

Commissioned into the Indian Navy in Jan 1987, Vice Adm Pendharkar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval War College, Karanja, and Naval Command College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.

An Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist, the Vice Admiral has held various Operational, Staff and Command Appointments in the course of his distinguished career spanning over 36 years. 

Prior to assuming the command of ENC, the Flag officer was carrying out the duties of Director General Naval Operations at IHQMoD(Navy) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff(Operations) at New Delhi.

The Flag Officer is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.