Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, AVSM, NM, assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command on Friday. He succeeded Vice Admiral V Srinivas PVSM, CAVSM, NM, who served in the Indian Navy for over four decades.
Saxena was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1989 and is a specialist in Navigation and Direction. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College, Newport, USA.
The Flag Officer has held several key operational, staff, and training appointments.
As a non-specialist officer, he served on board Indian Naval Ships Ajay, Sukanya, and Akshay. "As a specialist, he served on the direction team onboard the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, and subsequently as the Navigating Officer of Indian Naval Ships Kuthar, Godavari, and Delhi. He has been the Executive Officer of INS Mumbai," a statement by the Defence spokesperson said.
His Command tenures include the Mauritian Coast Guard ship Guardian and Indian Naval ships Kulish and Mysore. He also served as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. Significant appointments of his include — Joint Director of Personnel and Principal Director, Foreign Cooperation at Naval Headquarters; Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff; and Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, London.
Upon his promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral on February 5, 2020, he assumed the role of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), overseeing the Navy’s perspective planning, force structure, organisational development, financial management, infrastructure planning, and acquisitions. Thereafter, he commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy from December 2021 to November 2022. In November 2022, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area. On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral on 01 August 2023, the Flag Officer took over the responsibilities of Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.
Awards:
He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023. He has also received commendations from the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius, both for acts of gallantry at sea.
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