Asaf Humayun

Biography

Humayun was born in Hyderabad in Sindh, and after his matriculation, he joined the Pakistan Navy in December 1970, commissioning in the Submarine Service Branch. Mid Humayun served in the third war with India, serving in the Hangor-class submarines in 1971.

After the war, he did his initial training in the Naval Academy in Karachi, and was sent to the United Kingdom where he attended the Britannia Naval College in 1973. In 1974, S/Lieutenant Humayun was qualified in additional training from the United Kingdom. In 1980s, Cdr Humayun held the commands of Hangor and Shushak.

In 1984–86, he attended the Naval War College in Rhode Island in the United States, attaining his diploma in staff course. In 1992–94, Capt Humayun was selected by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to served as the naval attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi. In 1990s, Capt. Humayun held the commands of the Tippu Sultan and Shah Jahan. In 1998, he was promoted to the one-star assignment, holding the command of the Submarine Squadron as Commodore. From 1999–2000, Cdre. Humayun attended the National Defence University in Islamabad, where he gained degree in defence studies.

In 2001, Cdre Humayun was promoted to two-star assignment, subsequently moving to Navy NHQ, when Rear-Admiral Humayun was appointed as Naval Secretary. In 2001, Rear-Admiral Humayun assumed the command of the Submarine Command (COMSUBS), eventually supervising the deployment of submarines in the Indian Ocean to ward off the Indian Navy.

From 2002–2006, Rear-Admiral Humayun was appointed as Director-General of Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC) at the NeScom, where he noted for his leadership in employing technological systems in the naval combatant ships. In 2006, Rear-Admiral Humayun participated in the Exercise Sea Spark, alongside with then-Rear-Admiral Noman Bashir.

In 2007, Vice-Admiral Humayun was appointed as senior fleet commander and took over the command of Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK). As Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK), he successfully supervised the first ever multinational naval exercise held in Pakistan "Aman 07". In 2007, Humayun was made chief of staff of the Pakistan Navy, a second-in-command of Chief of Naval Staff.

Vice Chief of Naval Staff and retirement

In 2008, Vice-Admiral Humayun and Vice-Admiral Bashir were in the race of being promoted as four-star admiral in the Navy and being appointed as the Chief of Naval Staff, in a nomination summary sent by then-Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar to the Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Vice-Admiral Humayun was superseded by Vice-Admiral Bashir as a four-star admiral and for the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff by Prime minister Gillani, and the Prime Minister's choosing was then confirmed by then-President Asif Ali Zardari.

On 31 October 2008, President Zardari appointed Vice Admiral Asaf Humayun as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff with immediate effect, after Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani sent another recommendation. Humayun served as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff until 23 June 2010 and retired from the Navy after competing his term when he was succeeded by Vice Admiral Asif Sandila in 2010.

After retirement, he joined the faculty of the Bahria University and penned columns on security on the political correspondent, Pakistan Today.