29 August 2024 – Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, NM, officially assumed command as the new Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy (INA) on 29 August 2024. He succeeds Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty in this prestigious role.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1991, Vice Admiral Nair has had a distinguished career as a Surface Warfare officer, specializing in Communications and Electronic Warfare. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the US Naval War College in Newport, USA. Additionally, he holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University.
Throughout his service, Vice Admiral Nair has held several key positions. He served as the Signal Communication Officer aboard various Indian Navy ships, as the Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer, and later as the Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet. From 2018 to 2019, he held the role of Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet.
His sea commands include the missile corvette INS Kirch, the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai, and the Indian Navy’s largest warship, Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. Onshore, his appointments have included serving as Directing Staff at the Naval War College in Goa, Officer-in-Charge at Signal School, and Commodore (Personnel) at the Directorate of Personnel, Naval Headquarters. Notably, he was also a member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council (INSOC) for over three years.
In January 2022, upon his promotion to Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral Nair was appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval Headquarters. Before his recent elevation to Vice Admiral and subsequent appointment as Commandant of the INA, he commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy.
Vice Admiral Nair’s extensive experience and leadership in various capacities across the Indian Navy will undoubtedly guide the Indian Naval Academy to new heights as he takes on this critical role.
