Contractor in command

In an impressive ceremonial parade on the sprawling flight deck of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Rear Admiral Rustom F. Con­tractor as the new Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet was handed over the reins of the prestigious western fleet by his predecessor Rear Admiral P. S. Byce on May 13, 2005. Earlier Con-tractor’s flag was hoisted on his flagship of the western fleet, the cruiser INS Delhi as the strains of the bugle heralded the colors, notes a press release forwarded by Com Mike Bhada. With his new appointment Contractor takes over as the fleet commander of the sword arm fleet of the Indian Navy that boasts of an awesome array of over 20 premier warships.

Prior to this post Contractor was chief of staff, southern naval command at Kochi. During his over 33-year career with the Indian Navy, Contractor has held various important operational and staff appointments both afloat and ashore, notes his life pro­file. To him goes the credit of being the commanding officer of the first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), INS Sukanya which he commissioned in South Korea. He also enjoys the rare distinction of commanding two destroyers INS Rajput and INS Ranvijay, as also INS Viraat. Contractor had also served as direction officer of INS Vikrant.

Contractor (right) takes charge from Byce.

Ashore too Contractor was assigned challenging appointments including that of deputy director of naval operations and plans, the commanding officer of INS Jarawa and INS Mandovi, naval officer-in-charge Port Blair, commandant Naval Academy Goa, chief staff officer (operations) at headquarters eastern naval command Vishakapatnam and assistant chief of naval staff (information warfare and operations) at naval headquarters New Delhi.

Contractor who hails from Nagpur, schooled at the St Francis De Sales High School, Nagpur and thereafter joined the National Defence Academy, Kharak-vasala, Poona. The rear admiral is also an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Bombay and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He is a recipient of the Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Nao Sena Medal (devotion to duty) awarded by the President of India.