Laksdya Erwin Aldedharma Becomes Deputy Head Of Substitute Ahmadi Heri Purwono

Deputy Vice Admiral TNI Erwin S. Aldedharma (leftmost), and Vice Admiral TNI Ahmadi Heri Purwono (rightest) after handing over the position of Deputy Chief of Staff at the Jakarta Navy Headquarters, Tuesday 31 October. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Vice Admiral (Laksdya) TNI Erwin S. Aldedharma officially serves as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Wakasal) replacing Admiral TNI Ahmadi Heri Purwono who retired on November 1, 2023.

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali led the handover ceremony at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters (Mabesal) Cilangkap, Jakarta, Tuesday, October 31.

"The implementation of the handover of positions is a routine activity. However, this is also the result of the assessment of the TNI leadership, so it is not only the leadership of the Indonesian Navy, but also the leadership of the TNI assessing and being brought by him to the presence of the President and the President agreeing to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy and then held Vice Admiral TNI Erwin S. Aldedharma," said Admiral Ali after the ceremony, confiscated by Antara.

Erwin Slamet Aldedharma was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff as decided by the TNI Commander Number Kep/1223/X/2023 which was signed by TNI Admiral Yudo Margono on October 26, 2023.

Erwin, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1991, previously served as Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Pangkogabwilhan) I. Some of the strategic positions he had carried out included the Commander of the Marine Combat Group (Danguspurla) Koarmada II in 2018 2019, then the Deputy Planning Assistant (Wanasrena) Kasal in 20192021, Commander of the Military Cross-Later Command (Pangkolinlamil) in 20212022, Deputy Commander General of the TNI Academy, and Commander of Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada) I in 2023.

Within a year, Erwin changed his position at least three times starting from he became Pangkoarmada I, Pangkogabwilhan I, and finally Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy. In the same period, he also added one star on his shoulders from a high-ranking two-star officer to a three-star.

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy assesses that TNI Admiral Erwin S. Aldedharma has a complete assignment and education experience so that he deserves to be promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy.

"This appointment is seen based on several backgrounds, educational backgrounds, assignments, tours of duty, tours of areas, and Mr. Erwin is complete enough and we know that (he) was once the Commander of the Fleet and then Pangkogabwilhan, so he has synergized with other forces, and I think it is appropriate, and is considered appropriate by the TNI Commander and the President," he said.