Indian Navy Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan: Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, a distinguished officer with over 35 years of experience, officially assumed the position of Vice Chief of Naval Staff on Wednesday (May 1, 2024). A specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, Admiral Swaminathan has a decorated career marked by numerous leadership roles and prestigious awards, said the ministry of defence.
Following his commissioning into the Indian Navy on July 1st, 1987, Admiral Swaminathan established himself as a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare.
Throughout his career, the seniour naval officer held a variety of key operational, staff, and training appointments. These include command of missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, the missile corvette INS Kulish, the guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
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Admiral Swaminathan’s leadership qualities were recognized with his promotion to Rear Admiral. He served as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi, playing a pivotal role in overseeing training across the Indian Navy.
He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Naval Safety Team, which guarantees operational safety across all naval verticals. Following this, he was appointed Flag Officer Sea Training, leading the Navy’s Work-Up Organisation, before assuming the prestigious position of Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet. After commanding the Western Fleet, he held crucial positions in the Indian Navy.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan inspects guard of honor in New Delhi.
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On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi and played a key role on the conduct of training across the Indian Navy.
He was also instrumental in raising the Indian Naval Safety Team that oversees operational safety across all verticals of the Navy. He then went on to head the Work-Up Organisation of the Navy as the Flag Officer Sea Training after which he was privileged to be appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet.
After commanding the Sword Arm, he was appointed as the Flag Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group and Advisor, Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India.
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On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, the Flag Officer was Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command and Controller of Personnel Services at NHQ. Prior to his current assignment as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, he served as Chief of Personnel at NHQ.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan’s educational qualifications include a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; MSc in Telecommunications from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London; M. Phil in Strategic Studies from Mumbai University; and PhD in International Studies from Mumbai University.
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