His appointment as Chief of Naval Staff was approved by President Asif Ali Zardari on the recommendation of Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar on 5 October 2008, ultimately superseding the senior most, Vice-Admiral Asaf Humayun, to the four-star promotion.

[1] In 2011, Adm. Bashir was notably superseded and overlooked for the appointment of Chairman joint chiefs when the junior-most officer, Lt-Gen. K. Shameem Wynne, was eventually selected despite coming short of his qualifications.

[7] After his combat pilot's training, Bashir was directed to attend the National Defence University in Islamabad where he studied at the Armed Forces War College (afwc).

[11] In 1995, Captain Bashir commanded the PNS Tariq, paying a visit to Singapore where he was joined by the RSS Valiant for bilateral exercise.

[17][11][14] Upon returning from deputation in 2006, R-Adm. Bashir was taken as secondment and directed as general manager at the Karachi Port Trust, and later posted as the DCNS (Projects-II) at the Navy NHQ in Islamabad until 2007.

[21][18] I am duty-bound to continue to ensure the rightful maritime status for my country that it deserves so that it must be dealt and treated in proper manners.

Upon the retirement of Adm. Afzal Tahir being confirmed, Vice-Adm. Noman Bashir was in the race of the promotion to four-star rank alongside with four senior navy admirals included with seniority:[23] On 5 October 2008, President Asif Zardari eventually promoted V-Adm. Bashir as the four-star admiral in the Navy and appointed Adm. Noman as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), superseding the senior most V-Adm. Asaf Humayun who was moved to be appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS).

[26] After assuming the command, Admiral Bashir thanked the president for the appointment and recognized the role of Navy facing the multiple challenges in the realm of maritime security due to the presence of various powers in Pakistan's area of interest.

[31] Only a month of assuming his role as Chief of Naval Staff, Adm. Bashir faced the major crises with neighboring India after the deadly attacks were perpetuated in Mumbai in November 2008.

[33] In a pressing briefing at the ISPR, Adm. Bashir maintained that: "We have no evidence whatsoever that [Ajmal Kasab] had gone to India from Pakistani waters.

"[34] Adm. Bashir strongly criticized Indian army chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement about simultaneous war with China and Pakistan.

"[35] He maintained to the television correspondents that he does not take Indian army chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement seriously as he "knows about the strength of his neighboring countries, Pakistan and China.