Commander Who Led Return of Malaysia’s First Submarine from France Appointed as Navy Chief
Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain who has served as Acting Chief of Navy since August 1 this year, was promoted from Vice Admiral to Admiral to assume the role, succeeding Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob, who will retire on December 2, 2024.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain, who commanded Malaysia’s first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, during its return voyage from France in 2009, has been appointed as the 19th Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Zulhelmy, who has served as Acting Chief of Navy since August 1 this year, was promoted from Vice Admiral to Admiral to assume the role, succeeding Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob, who will retire on December 2, 2024.
According to a statement from the Navy’s Strategic Communications Division, Zulhelmy’s rank promotion ceremony was officiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and witnessed by Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman at the Wisma Pertahanan Auditorium today.
Born on January 2, 1968, in Dato Keramat, Zulhelmy completed his secondary education at the Royal Military College from 1981 to 1985 before joining the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) as a Naval Cadet Officer in 1986.
He was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Executive Branch two years later.
Zulhelmy’s career as a submariner began in 1993 when he earned his submarine specialist badge after completing training at HMAS Platypus in Australia.
He later completed the Submarine Course in Brest, France, and was awarded the Commanding Officer Qualification for the Agosta-class submarine.
“He made history by successfully commanding the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’s maiden voyage from France to Malaysia, which took two months, arriving on July 10, 2009,” the statement added.
Throughout his distinguished career, Zulhelmy has held several key positions, including Commander of the Submarine Force, Assistant Chief of Staff for Development (J5) at the Joint Forces Headquarters, Assistant Chief of Staff for Planning and Development at the Navy Headquarters, Commander of Naval Region 1, President of the National Defence Studies Centre, and Deputy Chief of Navy.
Zulhelmy holds a Master’s degree in National Security Administration and received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the National Defence College of the Philippines.
He is also an alumnus of the United States Naval War College in Rhode Island and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.
“The entire Navy community extends its heartfelt congratulations to Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain on his appointment as the 19th Chief of Navy,” the statement concluded. — DSA
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