Team Herald
VASCO: Rear Admiral Philipose George Pynumootil, NM, has assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area (FOGA) and Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) on Saturday. He took over the duties from Rear Admiral Puneet K Bahl, VSM. Bahl will soon be taking over as Flag Officer Maharastra Area.
Pynumootil is an alumnus of the Lawrence School, Lovedale and the National Defence Academy (67th course) and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1986.
A rotary wing pilot qualified on Sea King and Alouette helicopters, he has commanded INAS 330, the carrier based ASW squadron and the helicopter base, INS Shikra at Mumbai. Prior to assuming his current appointment, he served as the ACNS (Air) at IHQ MoD (Navy), New Delhi.
He has commanded the 1241 RE Corvette INS Nashak, the Corvette INS Kirpan and the Frigate INS Brahmaputra, besides doing tenure as Executive Officer of the Destroyer INS Delhi. The officer was awarded the Nao Sena Medal for his tenure in command of INS Brahmaputra.
The Flag Officer has also undergone the Staff Course and the Higher Air Command Course. He is a post graduate in Defence & Strategic Studies and holds an M Phil (Political Science). He is an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, London and obtained an MA (International Security & Strategy) from Kings College, London.
