Navy Colonel Fuad Hasan Appointed Candidate for Indonesia's First Aircraft Carrier Commander
The Indonesian Navy Headquarters has appointed Navy Colonel (P) Fuad Hasan as the candidate commander for Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier.
A graduate of the Naval Academy (AAL) class of 2002, the officer expressed great honour in being entrusted with such a significant position.
“At the time of my graduation as a Second Lieutenant, I could not have imagined that the Navy would possess an aircraft carrier. I also could not have envisioned reaching the rank of commander, yet today we are experiencing this milestone,” Fuad stated during an interview with the media in front of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garability at Pier 107, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Friday.
The former Commander of KRI Raden Edy Martadinata-331 noted that he and 100 other Indonesian Navy personnel were selected through a rigorous selection process. Following the selection, they underwent specialised training at the Second Fleet Command in Surabaya.
“We conducted training at Koarmada II for approximately one month, followed by a period in Taranto, Italy, at the Italian Naval Base. We underwent familiarisation for about one month,” Fuad explained.
Upon completing the training, Fuad and the 100 Indonesian Navy personnel, alongside 300 Italian Navy personnel, manned the vessel on its journey from Italy to Indonesia. During the voyage, Fuad admitted to facing several challenges, particularly regarding language barriers when coordinating with Italian sailors and adapting to the ship’s technology. However, he noted that these limitations served to strengthen the bond between the Indonesian and Italian naval personnel.
“Sailing together has made us feel like family. We are from different nations and navies, but we respect each other’s rules and traditions,” he said.
Fuad expressed immense pride in successfully bringing the aircraft carrier to Indonesian waters. He declared his readiness to fulfil his duties as the carrier commander for any mission assigned by the state.
“Regarding missions, I am ready for anything. Mission first, safety first; as long as a mission or task is assigned to us, our goal is to ensure the mission’s success while keeping safety as the top priority,” Fuad added.
Currently, the Giuseppe Garibaldi remains under the Italian flag and is commanded by Captain Marco Guerriero. The vessel is scheduled to be officially handed over from Italy to the Indonesian Government on 24 September 2026. At that time, the ship will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya, and Navy Colonel (P) Fuad Hasan will be officially inaugurated as the commander.