Early career

Prakash was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an acting sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1966.^[4] He specialised in naval aviation, qualifying as a pilot in the Sea Hawk jet fighter, flying from the deck of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in 1968. As a junior officer, he served afloat in Vikrant, INS Kirpan, and INS Delhi. His assignments in naval aviation included flying Islander aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 550, Vampire and Kiran aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 551, and Seahawk aircraft with Indian Navy Air Squadron 300.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

In the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, then Lieutenant Prakash flew Hawker Hunter aircraft for the 20th Squadron Lightnings. For his gallantry in air action over West Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, he received the Vir Chakra.^[1]

The Vir Chakra citation reads:

CITATION
LIEUTENANT ARUN PRAKASH, (00590-R)

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Lieutenant Arun Parkash was a deputation to the Indian Air Force. On the 4th December, 1971, he led an Indian Air Force strikes mission to an enemy airfield. In this mission, he destroyed enemy’s heavy transport on ground and returned to base. On the 5th December, 1971, he led a very deep penetration day operational strike into enemy territory and attacked enemy air-fields heavily defended by air and ground forces. It destroyed enemy’s Heavy Transport Aircraft, attacked troops and supplies and returned to base. Throughout, Lieutenant Arun Parkash displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.^[5]

The INS Vikrant in the early 1980s, carrying Sea Harriers and other aircraft

Post-War

Promoted to lieutenant commander on 1 May 1976,^[6] he flew the Super Constellation that year for maritime air reconnaissance with Indian Navy Air Squadron 312. He later commanded the missile boat INS Chatak, the training frigate INS Beas, the antisubmarine warfare frigate INS Vindhyagiri, and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.^[7]

He was promoted to commander on 1 July 1980,^[8] and in 1983, while in command of Indian Navy Air Squadron 300, he supervised the training of Indian Navy crew members in the United Kingdom for the Sea Harrier and ferried the newly acquired aircraft back to India. He commanded two Air Squadrons and the naval air station INS Hansa. In his aviation assignments, he logged more than 2,500 hours in the air in single and multi-engined, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft.^[7] He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1986.^[9]

Flag Rank

On 4 January 1993, Prakash was promoted to the rank of rear admiral and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS Air).^[10] On 1 April 1995, after a two-year stint as ACNS, he was appointed the 21st Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. He was in command of the Eastern Fleet for about a year-and-a-half. In late-1996, he moved to Naval HQ as Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACOP).

Chairman, COSC & CNS Adm Arun Prakash with CNO Adm Vern Clark in Washington, D.C.

He was then promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 31 July 1997,^[11] and took over as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy, an appointment he served in till 19 March 1999. He then moved to NHQ, having been appointed Chief of Personnel.^[12] In October 2001, he became the first Commander-in-Chief of the newly established Andaman and Nicobar Command. Then, on 31 December 2002, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command. Following this assignment, he was appointed as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, serving for a brief period from October 2003 to July 2004.

Chief of Naval Staff

Prakash was promoted to Full Admiral and was appointed the 20th Chief of Naval Staff on 31 July 2004.^[1] With the retirement of General Nirmal Chander Vij, Admiral Prakash took over as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee on 31 January 2005.^[13] While serving as Chief of Naval Staff, Prakash played an important role in renewing the Indian Navy's relationships with the United States Navy^[14] and in developing a vision of India's maritime strategy. Prakash retired as Chief of Naval Staff in October 2006.^[15] He retired from the post of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the same time.