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Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena on Friday assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Southern Naval Command, succeeding Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, who superannuated after nearly four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Navy.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College, Newport (USA), Vice Admiral Saxena was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1989. A specialist in Navigation and Direction, he has held several key operational, staff, and training appointments over his 36-year career.
During his sea tenures, Vice Admiral Saxena served on board Indian Naval Ships Ajay, Sukanya, and Akshay. He was part of the direction team onboard the aircraft carrier INS Viraat and later served as the Navigating Officer of INS Kuthar, Godavari, and Delhi. He also served as Executive Officer of INS Mumbai.
His command appointments 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.
Ashore, Vice Admiral Saxena has held several high-profile appointments, including Joint Director of Personnel, 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 in London.
On promotion to Rear Admiral, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), where he oversaw the Navy’s long-term perspective, force-level, organisational, financial, and infrastructure planning. He later commanded the Western Fleet from December 2021 to November 2022, and subsequently took over as Flag Officer Commanding, Gujarat Naval Area.
In August 2023, on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, he assumed the post of Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, before being appointed to head the Southern Naval Command.
Vice Admiral Saxena’s distinguished service has earned him several accolades, including the Nau Sena Medal (2017) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023). He has also been commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius, for acts of gallantry at sea.
Team BharatShakti
