Mangaluru: The incumbent Commander of Coast Guard Karnataka has been promoted to the rank of Inspector General on May 12, 2017. Departmental Promotion Committee of Indian Coast Guard considered promotion of senior officers and Inspector General KR Suresh, TM, the Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka is one of the Flag Officers, who have been elevated. On promotion, the Flag Officer has been appointed as the Commander, Coast Guard Region (Andaman and Nicobar) and will function from Port Blair. Deputy Inspector General SS Dasila has taken over the duties of Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka on May 15, 2017.Inspector General KR Suresh, TM, joined Coast Guard service on January 19, 1987 and belongs to 8th batch of direct entry Coast Guard officers. The Flag Officer is specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval Higher Command Course, Goa and National Defence College, New Delhi. The Flag Officer also holds an M Phil Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University as well as MSc Telecom from Cochin University of Science and Technology and MBA from Symbiosis University, Pune.
Inspector General KR Suresh, TM, will take over the duties of the Commander, Coast Guard Andaman and Nicobar Region on 18 May 2017. During the send-off, the Flag Officer stated, “I am grateful to the Central and State Governments for working in tandem with Coast Guard Karnataka. With the support of all the stake-holders, the coastal security and safety of life at sea has improved. I look forward to work with all these organizations in the future”. The Flag Officer also motivated Coast Guard Karnataka staff and advised them to dedicate themselves to the motto of Coast Guard, ‘Vyam Rakshamah’ meaning ‘We Protect’.
The new Commander of Coast Guard Karnataka, Deputy Inspector General SS Dasila, had been commanding Indian Coast Guard Ship Shoor and is the commissioning Commanding Officer of the ship. He is an alumnus of Military School, Dholpur and College of Defence Management, Secunderabad. He is from the 15th regular batch of Indian Coast Guard and joined service on 06 January 1991. The officer has gained diverse experience spanning over 25 years in Coast Guard duties in various assignments.
He is a specialist in Information Technology. The officer has been trained in International Maritime Officers Course (IMOC), USA and also undergone customised training on marine pollution control equipment with Vikoma International Ltd, UK and Lamor Corporation, Finland. His wide ranging appointments at sea include, command of four Coast Guard Ships C-06 (Interceptor Boat), Naiki Devi (Inshore Patrol Vessel), Raziya Sultana (Fast Patrol Vessel) and Varuna (Offshore Patrol Vessel).
His important ashore appointments include Officer-in-Charge PRT(East), Dy Director (IT) at Coast Guard Headquarters, Officer-in-Charge of MRCC, Mumbai and Chief Staff Officer Operations at Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (North West) and (North East).
Deputy Inspector General SS Dasila has encouraged the Coast Guard fraternity to follow the laid down norms and continue to work with zeal to serve the people of Karnataka and the Nation by providing safety and security at sea.