New Delhi: India's leading military strategist Lt Gen N C Vij was on October 31 named as the new Chief of Army Staff.

Gen Vij who is currently the Vice-chief of Army Staff will succeed Gen S Padmanabhan on December 31, 2002.

The first Army officer hailing from Jammu, the home of the gallant Dogras, Nirmal Chand Vij is currently the senior most General in the army after the present chief and has a string of decorations to his credit including the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for Kargil operations.

An alumni of the National Defence Academy, Vij has the rare distinction of having commanded an anti insurgency corps as well as a strike corps. He was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) during the Kargil conflict.

PTI