Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard)

Additional Director General Donny Michael, PTM, TM
Coast Guard Commander Eastern Seaboard

Additional Director General Donny Michael, PTM, TM has served the organization in various capacities in ashore and afloat appointments with distinction over the past three decades and is presently appointed as the Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) at Visakhapatnam.

The Flag Officer is specialized in Navigation & Direction and has commanded every class of Coast Guard Ship, including Inshore Patrol Vessel, Fast Patrol Vessel, Pollution Control Vessel, Offshore Patrol Vessel and Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel. His distinguished sea commands include ICGS Sarang and ICGS Samudra Prahari.

The Flag Officer is an alumnus of the prestigious World Maritime University, Sweden and holds an LLB degree from the CLC, Delhi University. The Officer formed part of the Indian delegation to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands to protect India's interest in the Enrica Lexie Italian Marines case. His unwavering commitment to service has been recognized through Director General Indian Coast Guard and Commander Coast Guard Region West Commendations.

The Flag Officer's extensive experience encompasses pivotal staff appointments at higher headquarters and his other contributions include framing SAR doctrines, Environmental protection manuals, articles in professional magazines besides presentation and publication of various papers on CG subjects and legal cases at various national and international seminars/conferences.

The Flag Officer has spearheaded critical service initiatives as Deputy Director General (HRD) and Deputy Director General (CGSB) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. During his tenure as Commander Coast Guard Region East from Nov 23 to Sep 24, the region witnessed multiple operations leading to apprehension of smugglers, poachers and seizure of gold, drugs and prohibited species. The Eastern Region also witnessed accelerated infrastructure growth such as inauguration of new 'state of the art’ Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) at Chennai and commissioning of Coast Guard Air Enclave at Puducherry besides other infra projects.

The Flag Officer’s visionary contributions to the Indian Coast Guard have been duly acknowledged with the award of the President's Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service in Aug 24 and Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry) In Jan 14 for saving 15 crew from a burning container ship off Mumbai, and preventing a marine environment disaster.

The Flag Officer hails from Chennai and is married to Smt. Manmeen, who is an Image Consultant. The couple have a son Prahalad, who is a Fitness Expert and an entrepreneur and daughter Hazel who is pursuing graduation studies at Delhi University.