New Delhi, Jan 1 : VS Pathania has taken over as the chief of Indian Coast Guard (ICG), replacing K. Natarajan, who headed the ICG from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, an official said on Friday. An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, Pathania is a qualified helicopter pilot and holds a Master's Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras. He has also undergone specialisation in Search and Rescue and port operations with the US Coast Guard. In his illustrious career spanning over 36 years, he has held several key appointments afloat and ashore, prominent among them are Commander Coast Guard Region (North West) at Gandhi Nagar, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) at Mumbai, Deputy Director General (HRD), Deputy Director General (Policy &Plans) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. He has also commanded all class of Coast Guard ships namely Inshore Patrol Vessel 'Ranijindan', Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Vigraha' and Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sarang'. He has also held various appointments viz Principal Director (HRD), Principal Director (Policy & Plans) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, Chief of Staff at Headquarters, Coast Guard Region (North West), Chief Staff Officer (Operations) and Chief Staff Officer (Personnel & Administration) at Headquarters Coast Guard Region (West), Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Air Station at Chennai, Director (Personnel) and Joint Director (Aviation) at Coast Guard Headquarters and also as Squadron Commander of 848 Sqn at Chennai. He was elevated to the rank of Additional Director General in November 2019 and took over the reins as Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) at Visakhapatnam. The period under his watch on Eastern Seafront saw surge in major operations that included apprehension of gold and tons of drugs/narcotic substance worth thousands of crores, pollution response operations, joint exercises with Foreign Coast Guard, anti-poaching operations, mass rescue operations and humanitarian assistance during cyclones/natural calamities and strengthened the coastal security. Pathania is also the recipient of President's Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service, Tatrakshak Medal for gallantry and Director General Indian Coast Guard Commendation. /IANS