Udupi: The 6 Karnataka Naval Unit NCC in Udupi marked a momentous occasion on June 26 with a ceremonial change of command. Lieutenant Commander M A Multani formally handed over leadership to Commander Aswin M Rao in a traditional naval handover ceremony attended by unit staff and Associate NCC Officers (ANOs).
The event began with Lt Cmdr Multani presenting the ceremonial cap to Commander Rao, a symbolic gesture marking the official transfer of responsibilities.
In his farewell address, Lt Cmdr Multani was applauded for his outstanding leadership and steadfast dedication, which significantly enhanced the unit’s standing and achievements in various inter-unit and inter-college events.
Commander Rao, now at the helm, expressed heartfelt thanks to his predecessor and pledged to uphold the unit’s proud legacy. He stressed the pivotal role ANOs play in guiding cadets, shaping them into disciplined and responsible citizens.
A seasoned naval officer with over 20 years of experience, Commander Rao was commissioned in the early 2000s as an Air Electrical Officer. A native of Karkala, Udupi, he is trilingual—fluent in Kannada, Hindi, and English—and holds degrees from IIT Kanpur and NMAMIT, Nitte.
His distinguished service record includes assignments at INS Valsura, INAS 342, WESEE, INS Sharda, NIAT (Kochi), CEMILAC (Bengaluru), and most recently at NLC (HAL) for aviation trials on ALH Mk I, Mk III, and Chetak helicopters. In 2020, he received the Chief of Naval Staff Commendation for excellence.
The unit now looks forward to reaching new heights under Commander Rao’s visionary command.