Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM assumed the role of Vice Chief of Naval Staff on 01 May 2024. Upon taking charge, he paid tribute to the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation by laying a floral wreath at the National War Memorial.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987, Vice Admiral Swaminathan specializes in Communication and Electronic Warfare. He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
As a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, the Admiral has held numerous significant operational, staff, and training positions throughout his naval career. This includes commanding missile vessels such as INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, the missile corvette INS Kulish, the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
Upon promotion to Rear Admiral, he served as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi, where he played a pivotal role in training activities across the Indian Navy. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Naval Safety Team responsible for operational safety oversight. He later led the Navy’s Work-Up Organization as Flag Officer Sea Training and subsequently commanded the Western Fleet. Following his command of the Fleet, he assumed the role of Flag Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group and Advisor for Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India.
Promoted to Vice Admiral, he served as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command and Controller of Personnel Services at NHQ. Before his current assignment as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, he held the position of Chief of Personnel at NHQ.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan’s academic credentials include a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; an MSc in Telecommunications from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London; an MPhil in Strategic Studies from Mumbai University; and a PhD in International Studies, also from Mumbai University.
