Director General

Krishnaswamy Natarajan

PVSM, PTM, TM
Director General Krishnaswamy Natarajan
Born30 December 1961[1]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Coast Guard
Years of service18 January 1984 - 31 December 2021
Rank Director General
Commands held
  • Western Seaboard
  • Coast Guard Region (West)
  • Coast Guard Region (A&N)
  • ICGS Sangram
  • CGTC (Kochi)
  • EX-ICGS Veera
  • Ex-ICGS Kanaklata Barua
  • Ex-ICGS Chandbibi
  • ICGS Mandapam
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal
President's Tatrakshak Medal
Tatrakshak Medal
Spouse(s)Mrs Jayanthi Natarajan

Krishnaswamy Natarajan PVSM, PTM, TM, is a retired Indian Coast Guard officer who served as the 23rd Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.[2] He assumed the office on 1 July 2019 and served until his superannuation on 31 December 2021.[3][4][5][6] He is currently the Executive Director of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia - Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP, ISC) in Singapore.

Early life and education

Natarajan was born on 30 Dec 1961 and completed his education in Chennai. He holds a master's degree in Defence & Strategic Studies from Madras University. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has specialized in Search and Rescue as well as Maritime Safety and Port Operations, at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia.

Career

Natarajan joined the Indian Coast Guard on 18 January 1984 and did his education in Chennai. He holds a master's degree in Defence & Strategic Studies from Madras University. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has specialized in Search and Rescue as well as Maritime Safety and Port Operations, at the US Coast Guard Reserve Training Centre, Yorktown, Virginia.[1]

Natarajan has held various important Command and Staff appointments, both afloat and ashore, with distinction. He has commanded all classes of Indian Coast Guard ships viz Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) Sangram, Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Veera, Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) Kanaklata Barua and Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) Chandbibi. His important ashore Command appointments include the Commander Coast Guard District No.5 (Tamil Nadu) and the Commanding Officer ICGS Mandapam. His key staff assignments at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi include Principal Director (Policy & Plans), Chairman Coast Guard Service Selection Board, Principal Director (Projects), Joint Director (Operations), Coast Guard Advisor (CGA) to Director General Indian Coast Guard. Natarajan has held the appointments of Chief Staff Officer (Personnel & Administration) at Headquarters Region (East), Chennai and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Region (West), Mumbai.He has also held the appointment of Officer-in-Charge, Coast Guard Training Centre, Kochi.

Flag rank

On elevation to the Flag rank in Aug 2009, he spearheaded the Staff Division of Policy & Plans at the Coast Guard Headquarters as the Deputy Director General (Policy & Plans) till Apr 2014. He was instrumental in giving a fillip to the overall growth of the Coast Guard, post 26/11, in terms of establishing additional 20 Stations, 10 Air Establishment, Two Regional Headquarters, Two Seaboards and contract for 120 ships & boats and infrastructure development including a dedicated Academy. Natarajan was Commander Coast Guard Region (Andaman & Nicobar) from May 14-Jul-15 and Commander Coast Guard Region (West) from Jul 15-Aug-16. He was elevated to the rank of Additional Director General on 12-Aug-16 and since then held the reins of the Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard) till 29-Jun-19.

The numerous achievements of the Flag Officer during his distinguished career include those having deep fiscal bearing for the country. As the then Commanding Officer of CG Station at Mandapam in 1991–92, choked channels for smuggling of contrabands to Sri Lanka. In June 2006, his methodical planning as Chief of Staff Headquarters Region (West) resulted in apprehension of 200 kg Cocaine off Mumbai. In July 2017, as the Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard), the Apex Level Op Control Authority on the West Coast, orchestrated the landmark operation for intercepting MV Hennry leading to recovery of 1.5 Ton Heroin worth ₹ 5000 Cr. In recognition of his exceptional service, he was awarded “World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit” in 2018.

Natarajan is the second direct entry Coast Guard officer who took over the helm of Indian Coast Guard on 30 Jun 19 as 23rd Director General.

Personal life

The Flag Officer is married to Mrs Jayanthi Natarajan and the couple is blessed with two children.

Awards and decorations

Natarajan is a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021, President's Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service) in 2011, Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious) in 1996, Lieutenant Governor (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) Commendation in Jan 15. He was awarded “Kashti Ratna” in Oct 16 and “Samudra Manthan Award” in Dec 2017 for outstanding contribution towards maritime Safety and Security.

Param Vishist Seva Medal President's Tatrakshak Medal Tatrakshak Medal Special Service Medal 'Suraksha'
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
Coast Guard Silver Jubilee Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Events & Activities

Investiture Ceremony

Commissioning of Assets

References

  1. 1 2 https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1685_0_DGICG.aspx?regID=1684
  2. ↑ "V S Pathania Takes Charge As Indian Coast Guard Chief". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "K Natarajan takes over as Director General of Coast Guard". Economic Times. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "K Natarajan to replace Rajendra Singh as director general of Indian Coast Guard". India Today. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. ↑ "K Natarajan to Be Next Director General of Indian Coast Guard". News18. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Krishnaswamy Natarajan appointed as next Director General of Indian Coast Guard". Hindustan Times. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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