Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun has officially assumed command as the 21st Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria.
This was disclosed in Abuja on Monday by Public Relations Officer,
National Defence College, Navy Captain Muhammad Tukur Muhammad saying that he took over from Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu.
Rear Admiral Okosun began his military career at Air Force Military School, Jos, and was later admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 40th Regular Course. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
A seasoned naval officer and marine engineer, Rear Admiral Okosun has attended several military courses vital to his professional development.
These include the Officers’ Application Course at the Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele; the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji; as well as the National Defence Course at the prestigious Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt.
Over the course of his career, he has held a broad range of operational, instructional, technical, and command appointments.
These include Marine Engineering Officer onboard NNS ERINOMI and NNS OLOGBO; Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at AFCSC Jaji; and Directing Staff at the NDC. He also served as Assistant Director for Air Engineering at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and Assistant Director Platforms at the Defence Headquarters, Command Technical Officer at Western Naval Command, and Officer-in-Charge of Fleet Support Unit NNS PATHFINDER.
Rear Admiral Okosun has also held senior management and strategic roles, including appointments as General Manager (Yard Services) and General Manager (Production) at the Naval Dockyard Limited. He served as Commander of Fleet Support Group (East), Director of Marine Engineering at NHQ, Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies at the Naval War College Nigeria and Commandant Nigerian Navy Institute of Technology, Sapele.
Before his current appointment, he was Director of Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation at Naval Headquarters.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and is a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).
His decorations include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Pass Staff Course Dagger (psc⁺), and Distinguished Fellow Defence College (fdc⁺). He is also a Distinguished Eminent Fellow of the Naval War College.
With his broad spectrum of expertise, leadership acumen, and strategic insight, Rear Admiral Okosun is set to steer the NDC into a new era of excellence reinforcing the College role as Nigeria’s apex institution for strategic military education and policy development.
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