KUALA LUMPUR: Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain has been appointed as the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) 19th admiral, succeeding Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob, who will be retiring.

Zulhelmy, who earlier held the position of the acting Navy chief, is the second submarine officer to helm the Navy.

The official appointment and conferment of rank was officiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and witnessed by Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.

Also present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and Air Force chief General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan.

Zulhelmy, born on Jan 2, 1968, in Kuala Lumpur received his secondary education at the Royal Military College from 1981 to 1985 and began his career in the RMN by undergoing Cadet Officer training in 1986.

He was later commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Executive Branch two years later.

His career as a submariner began in 1993 when he earned his submarine qualification badge after completing submarine training at HMAS Platypus, Australia.

Zulhelmy later completed the submarine course in Brest, France, and was awarded the Agosta-class Submarine commanding officer qualification certificate.

He also successfully brought Malaysia’s first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, home from France, a journey that took two months.

Among the key positions he has held during his service include Submarine Force Commander, Assistant Chief of Staff Development (J5) at the Joint Forces Headquarters, Assistant Chief of Staff Planning and Development at the Navy Headquarters, Commander of the 1st Naval Region, National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas) and Deputy Navy Chief.

Zulhelmy holds a Master’s degree in National Security Administration, for which he also 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.