Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena assumes charge as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, on Friday (October 31, 2025), succeeding Vice Admiral V. Srinivas. At the SNC War Memorial, Naval Base, Kochi, both Flag Officers paid homage to the bravehearts who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

Vice Admiral Saxena was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1989 and is a specialist in navigation and direction. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College Newport, USA, according to a release from the Navy.

He has served onboard Indian naval ships Ajay, Sukanya and Akshay as a non-specialist officer. As a specialist, he served on the direction team onboard the aircraft carrier INS Viraat and subsequently as the Navigating Officer of Indian naval ships Kuthar, Godavari and Delhi. He has been the Executive Officer of INS Mumbai.

His Command tenures 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. He has served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) and also commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy. In November 2022, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area.

He was serving as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral since August 1, 2023.

He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023.

He is married to Laboni Saxena.