Meet Our Chief Operating Officer | Captain K S Cariappa
October 14, 2024
We are pleased to welcome Captain K S Cariappa who joins us as Chief Operating Officer. Capt. Cariappa is a naval veteran with over 30 years experience in operations, training, building strategic infrastructure, and driving cutting edge technology across large establishments. He has worked across various organisations of the Indian Navy, including warships and naval shipyards at Mumbai and Karwar. During his long military career, he participated in ‘Ops Vijay’ during the Kargil crisis of 1999, and ‘Ops Blossom’ which involved evacuating Indian citizens from Libya in 2011. He is a recipient of the ‘Chief of Naval Staff’ Commendation for establishing a strategic naval base on the west coast of the country.
In this interview, he shares more about his journey so far and his work.
Can you tell us a little more about your background and your journey so far?
My life journey so far has been the product of a spark of ambition ignited by tales of the open ocean and the life of a naval officer. After a highly academic schooling, at age 17, I was selected to the Naval Academy, a decision that would thrust me into a world of rigour, camaraderie, and adventure. The training was relentless as also the academics. Four years on, men were forged out of young boys, and then commenced a naval career which spanned across 33 years. The journey has been one of adventure, sorrows and lifelong bonds. The greatest of joys in the journey has been that it was a profession lived and not a job being done.
At NLSIU, the journey has been one of understanding new workplace dynamics where my original skill sets have come in handy. The last few months have been satisfying and eye opening with different kind of pulls and pressures having to be worked upon.
Talk to us about your areas of professional expertise and personal interests.
I am a BTech graduate in electrical engineering with a MSc in defence and management studies. I also have internal specialisations of the military in nuclear biological and chemical damage control, specialisation in missile system operations and maritime law. I have spent time with the Naval Special Forces and have a special interest in study of Low Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO). During the later part of my naval career, I enjoyed planning, overseeing and commissioning large greenfield infrastructure projects which have given me immense satisfaction.
On the personal front, I have been a squash player and an equestrian participant for various teams in the Navy; Now, I am a regular at squash, swimming, gym and weekend golf.
Tell us more about your role at NLSIU.
At NLSIU, the role of Chief Operating Officer ensures that the University runs efficiently in a manner that aligns with its strategic goals. I oversee non-academic operations, including infrastructure projects, facilities and estate management, campus safety, and auxiliary services such as dining, housing, transportation. My work at NLSIU is therefore satisfying as we have numerous ongoing and upcoming large projects to work on. My strong financial and project management skills developed over the years in the Navy have helped me meet a certain satisfaction level on all fronts of operations.
What leadership qualities are you an advocate of, and the role it can play at a workspace?
My leadership style involves empowering all my subordinates to work independently as I have been taught that ‘without trust, credibility erodes fast’. I have always tried to understand and address other’s perspectives as it develops loyalty and collaboration. Most importantly, I have always encouraged my subordinates to express themselves frankly, and work without the fear of making mistakes, by giving them the confidence that they would not take the fall if they erred. Having said this, discipline, integrity, and adherence to rules and regulations has been the cornerstone of my leadership.
To connect with Captain Cariappa, please write to