Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena Takes Over as Chief of Southern Naval Command

Kochi: Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, AVSM, NM, has taken over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. He succeeded Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, PVSM, CAVSM, NM, who retired after nearly four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Navy.
Before the formal handing over, both officers paid homage at the Southern Naval Command War Memorial in Kochi, honouring those who laid down their lives in service to the nation.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1989, Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena is a Navigation and Direction specialist. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; and the Naval War College, Newport, USA. Over the course of his career, he has held several key operational, staff, and training appointments.
As a young officer, he served onboard Indian Naval Ships Ajay, Sukanya, and Akshay. Later, as a specialist, he was part of the direction team on the aircraft carrier INS Viraat and served as Navigating Officer on INS Kuthar, Godavari, and Delhi. He also served as the Executive Officer of INS Mumbai.
His command tenures included the Mauritian Coast Guard ship Guardian and Indian Naval Ships Kulish and Mysore. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.
Onshore, he held significant positions including Joint Director of Personnel and Principal Director of Foreign Cooperation at Naval Headquarters. He also served as Naval Assistant to the Chief of the Naval Staff and as Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India in London.
After being promoted to Rear Admiral on February 5, 2020, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), overseeing the Navy’s long-term planning, force structure, infrastructure development, and acquisitions. He commanded the Western Fleet from December 2021 to November 2022 and later took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area in November 2022.
Promoted to Vice Admiral on August 1, 2023, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command before assuming his current post in Kochi.
Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena 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 of Mauritius for acts of gallantry at sea.