President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has inaugurated Admiral Siwi Sukma Adji as the new Navy chief of staff, replacing retiring Admiral Ade Supandi, whose tenure ends on June. 1. 

Siwi was sworn in at the State Palace on Wednesday.

Jokowi had upgraded Siwi's military rank from that of a three-star vice admiral to a four- star admiral, making the 56-year-old eligible for the post.

Siwi, a 1985 Navy Academy graduate, was formerly chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Academy. He has also served several strategic positions, including chief of the  Navy's Western Fleet, which oversees security in the Malacca Strait and South China.

He was among five three-star generals recommended for promotion by TNI commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. 

The others included Navy deputy chief of staff Vice Adm. Achmad Taufiqoerrochman, TNI chief of general staff Vice Adm. Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) chief Vice Adm. Arie Soedewo and the military's Staff and Command School’s (Sesko) head Lt. Gen. (Mar) RM Trusono. (ebf)