Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Assumes Command of Western Naval Command in Mumbai Ceremony
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM, has officially taken over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command (WNC) of the Indian Navy. The ceremonial event took place at INS Shikra in Mumbai, marking the transition of command from Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM.
The ceremony featured a guard of honour and was attended by senior naval officers and personnel. Following his assumption of command, Vice Admiral Swaminathan paid his respects at the Gaurav Stambh monument at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, honoring the memory of naval personnel who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.
With over three decades of operational and leadership experience, Vice Admiral Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987. He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla and has pursued higher military education at prestigious institutions such as the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the UK, the College of Naval Warfare in Karanja, and the US Naval War College in Rhode Island.
Throughout his distinguished career, Vice Admiral Swaminathan has commanded numerous frontline warships, including missile boats like INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, the missile corvette INS Kulish, the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. Before this current position, he served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi.
The Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai, is a critical component of the Indian Navy's operations along the western seaboard. It manages a formidable fleet that includes aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft, playing a crucial role in maintaining maritime security in the Arabian Sea and overseeing strategic sea lanes.
Under the leadership of Vice Admiral Swaminathan, the Indian Navy's western sector is anticipated to see improvements in operational readiness, international collaboration, and preparedness to address emerging maritime challenges.
