A member of the first batch of cadets to attend the Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship Dufferin, he earned the Viceroy's gold medal and joined the Hooghly River Survey of the Calcutta Port Commissioners.

In 1939, he joined the Royal Indian Naval Reserve and served on board the HMIS Sandoway.

After the Independence of India, he commanded HMIS Kistna (U46) and the naval force during the Indian integration of Junagadh.

After attending the Imperial Defence College in 1953, he returned to India and was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

He served a full term as Chief and his tenure saw the commissioning of India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and the liberation of Goa.

After his retirement, he served as the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).

[3] Promoted to temporary lieutenant on 23 September 1940, he was subsequently assigned to HMIS Dalhousie, the naval gunnery school in Bombay.

[4] On 9 April 1943, he was posted to Karachi and assigned to HMIS Bahadur, the Boys' Training Establishment for the RIN.

[8] At the end of the war, as a lieutenant-commander, he was appointed the commanding officer of HMIS Cauvery (U10) and led the mine clearance operations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

[12] From July 1948 to early 1949, Katari served as the Commander (executive officer) of the cruiser, with Lt S M Nanda as his first lieutenant.

[13] In February 1949, the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) was re-organised and he was appointed the Chief of Personnel, taking over the post on 9 March.

[1] [21] In December 1955, the Government of India announced the appointment of Katari as the Flag Officer (Flotillas) Indian Fleet.

He would be the first Indian Officer to command the fleet and take over in September 1956 from Rear Admiral St John Tyrwhitt KCB, DSO, DSC & Bar.

His flag was hoisted on the INS Delhi at 8 A.M.[25] It was on Katari's request that the transfer of command was fixed on 2 October, to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti.

[26] In February 1958, Katari was appointed the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

[31] He relinquished the post of CNS as a Vice Admiral, then the highest rank in the Indian Navy.

[32] Katari served as the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) between December 1962 and May 1964.

In 1968, the post of CNS was upgraded to the rank of full admiral, and on 21 October 1980, Katari and Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman, his successor as CNS, were promoted to the honorary rank of full Admiral on the retired list by President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.

[41] The Admiral RD Katari Trophy is awarded to the Sub Lieutenant placing first in overall merit during the ab-initio training.