In first, non-Navy officer named Coast Guard DG

In a break from tradition on Wednesday the government, for the first time ever, appointed a Coast Guard cadre-commissioned officer — Rajendra Singh — as director-general of the Coast Guard who will now head the maritime security force.

Till now, naval officers used to head the force. On two previous occasions, however, naval officers who left the Navy and were later absorbed into the Coast Guard headed the force.

Rajendra Singh is the first officer who was commissioned from the start of his career into the Coast Guard cadre and was then selected to head it. The decision has gladdened the hearts of the Coast Guard cadre officers who felt the time had come for one of their own to head their force instead of naval officers of the rank of Vice Admiral, who would complete their tenures in the top job in the Coast Guard and then revert to the Navy.

Mr Singh is currently the additional director-general in the force and is the second-highest ranking in the force. Mr Singh will succeed senior naval officer vice-admiral H.C.S Bisht.