Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, on Friday took over as the new Navy Chief.

58-year-old Joshi succeeds Admiral Nirmal Verma who retires on Friday.

Joshi, who was the Western Naval Commander, has taken over the force at a time when it is set to operate two aircraft carriers and induct a large number of warships, long- range surveillance aircraft and submarines.

He will have a three-year tenure.

He has commanded the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Island Command and also headed the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters in New Delhi.

He also commanded the Vizag-based Eastern Fleet.

Commissioned in 1974, Joshi has commanded aircraft carrier INS Viraat, guided-missile destroyer Ranvir and corvette INS Kuthar.

A graduate of the Naval War College, USA, he is an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College in New Delhi.