Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair Appointed as Controller Personnel Services at Naval Headquarters
Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM, has stepped into the role of Controller Personnel Services (CPS) at Naval Headquarters. He officially took over the position on July 31, 2025, starting his responsibilities with a homage at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honor the sacrifices of the Indian Armed Forces' fallen heroes.
Vice Admiral Nair, who joined the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991, is a seasoned Surface Warfare Officer with expertise in Communications and Electronic Warfare. His distinguished career of over 30 years encompasses commanding major Indian warships such as the Missile Corvette INS Kirch, the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai, and the flagship Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya.
Previously, he has held significant positions including Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans), and Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy. He has an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University and is a graduate of the US Naval War College, where he earned the Robert E. Bateman International Award and the Vice Admiral James H. Doyle Prize.
His dedication to duty was recognized with the Nao Sena Medal in 2000, and he received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025 for his distinguished service. In his new role as CPS, he will oversee personnel management and human resource strategies at a pivotal time as the Indian Navy expands its capabilities to address increasing maritime challenges.
Vice Admiral Nair's leadership comes as the Navy undertakes significant recruitment initiatives, including the hiring of over 1,100 civilian personnel, and advances naval infrastructure development in strategic areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As CPS, he is anticipated to be instrumental in aligning the Navy’s personnel strategies with its modernization objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
