Krishna Swaminathan

In this Indian name, the name Swaminathan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Krishna.

• Droupadi Murmu

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM
Official portrait, 2024
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 August 2025
Preceded by	Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
Succeeded by	Sanjay Vatsayan
Personal details
Born	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Spouse	Laila Swaminathan [1]
Relations	Tyabji family (through wife)
Alma mater	Sainik School, Bijapur, National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Navy
Years of service	July 1987 - present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Western Fleet INS Vikramaditya (R33) INS Mysore (D60) INS Kulish (P63) INS Vinash (K47) INS Vidyut (K48)
Awards	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. He earlier served as the 46th Vice Chief of Naval staff, the Chief of Personnel, the Controller of Personnel Services, Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group (FODAG), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) and Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). He was the second Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Early life and education

Krishna was born to D. Swaminathan and Shanta Swaminathan, both teachers, in Bangalore. The Swaminathans resided in NR Colony in Basavanagudi. He attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School until the age of 15. He then attended the Sainik School, Bijapur. He subsequently joined and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune. ^[2]

Naval career

Krishna was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He spent his early years in Mumbai, receiving his watchkeeping ticket on the Pondicherry-class minesweeper INS Alleppey (M65). He specialised in Communication and Electronic Warfare. In the early 1990s, he served as the Aide-de-camp to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, he was selected to attend the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), Shrivenham in the United Kingdom. ^[3]

Krishna commanded the Veer-class corvettes, INS Vidyut (K48) and INS Vinash (K47). Promoted to the rank of Commander in 2002, he subsequently served on the staff of the Western Fleet, as the Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer (FEWO). He then commanded the Kora-class corvette INS Kulish (P63). Krishna later moved to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington as a Directing Staff before attending the higher command course at the College of Naval Warfare in Mumbai. ^[4]

Krishna was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2009 and was selected to attend the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in the United States. On his return, he was appointed Naval Assistant (NA) to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma. After his stint as NA, he took command of the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore (D60). He was in command of Mysore during the President's fleet review in 2011. Under his command, the ship participated in INDRA - the joint naval exercise with Russia, in late 2012. ^[5]

Krishna (left) takes command of INS Vikramaditya from Capt. Suraj Berry.

As a Commodore, Krishna served as the Principal Director Naval Signals at NHQ and had a second stint as NA to CNS, this time to Admiral Robin K. Dhowan. On 2 November 2015, Krishna took command of the flagship of the Indian Navy, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (R33) as its second commanding officer. ^{[3] [6]} He commanded the carrier during the International Fleet Review 2016. During his command tenure, Vikramaditya was adjudged the Best Ship of the Western Fleet. ^[7]

Flag rank

Krishna (right) hands over charge as FOST to RAdm Rajesh Pendharkar.

On promotion to Flag rank, Krishna took over as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) (CSO (Trg)) at the Southern Naval Command, the training command of the Indian Navy, at Kochi. As CSO (Trg), he played a key role in the conduct of all training in the Navy. He was also instrumental in raising the Indian Navy Safety Team (INST) that oversees operational safety across all verticals of the Navy. ^[8] On 18 March 2019, he assumed the office of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), also at Kochi. FOST functions under the operational and administrative jurisdiction of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command. As FOST, his charter included the conduct of the operational sea training of all ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. It includes enhancing crew proficiency in all aspects, including safe navigation practices, damage control and firefighting drills, weapon firings as well as seamanship training. ^[9]

Krishna took command of the Western Fleet on 14 February 2020 as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. ^{[10] [11]} During this tenure, the western fleet exercised with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) in the North Arabian Sea in the 4th edition of India - Japan Maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX. The JMSDF had its Escort Flotilla Two under the command of Rear Admiral Konno Yasushige. ^[12] For his command of the western fleet, on 26 January 2021, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. ^[13]

In February 2021, he relinquished command of the Western Fleet and was appointed Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group and took over from Rear Admiral Ravindra Jayant Nadkarni. ^{[14] [15]} He was the FODAG during the extremely severe Cyclone Tauktae, which impacted off-shore oil operations. After a short stint as FODAG, on 4 November 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command at Mumbai. ^[16] In April 2023, he was appointed Controller of Personnel Services at naval headquarters. ^[17] After a short stint as CPS, he was appointed Chief of Personnel on 6 October 2023. In both appointments, CPS and COP, he took over from Vice Admiral Suraj Berry. ^{[18] [19]} On 1 May 2024 he took over as the 46th Vice Chief of Naval Staff succeeding Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi upon his elevation as the Chief of Naval Staff. ^[20] On 31 July 2025, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh superannuated and Krishna took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

Personal life

Krishna is married to Laila Swaminathan. The couple has two daughters. ^[24]

Awards and decorations

Krishna was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Vishisht Seva Medal	Samanya Seva Medal	Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	75th Independence Anniversary Medal	50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal		9 Years Long Service Medal

Source: ^[25]

See also

• Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
• Western Fleet
• INS Vikramaditya

References

1. City lad commands India's largest aircraft carrier. Bangalore Mirror.
2. Rao R., Sunitha (4 November 2015). "B'luru boy followed dreams to head INS Vikramaditya". The Times of India.
3. "Captain Krishna Swaminathan takes over Command of Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
4. "Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM assumes Charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST)". pib.gov.in.
5. "Joint naval exercise with Russia". The Hindu. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
6. Desk, OneIndia Defence (2 November 2015). "Bengalurian takes over as Commanding Officer of INS Vikramaditya". oneindia.com.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
7. "Western Fleet Evening 2016 conducted | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
8. "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS CONTROLLER OF PERSONNEL SERVICES INDIAN NAVY". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
9. "Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM assumes Charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST)". pib.gov.in.
10. "Rear Admiral Krishna D Swaminathan, VSM Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Mumbai". indiannavy.nic.in.
11. "Bangalorean Navy officer to take over as Fleet Commander of Western Fleet". Deccan Herald. 14 February 2020.
12. "Bilateral Maritime Exercise Between Japan and India (JIMEX 20) to Commence off West Coast of India". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
13. "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Award Winners on Republic Day 2021". pib.gov.in.
14. "REAR ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE WESTERN FLEET (FOCWF)". PIB. 24 February 2021.
15. Jun 11, TNN / (11 June 2021). "Before rescue, Navy quelled fear in sailors | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.
16. "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command". pib.gov.in.
17. "Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh to be new navy vice chief". Hindustan Times. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
18. "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM assumes charge as Chief of Personnel Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
19. "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM assumes charge as Chief of Personnel Indian Navy | Indian Navy". indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
20. "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM ASSUMED CHARGE AS VICE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
21. "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM TAKES OVER AS THE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF, WESTERN NAVAL COMMAND". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
22. "Krishna Swaminathan to head Western Naval Command". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
23. "Indian Navy". x.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
24. KamathV, ana; Nov 3, ana Kamath / Updated. "City lad commands India's largest aircraft carrier". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
25. "Visit of Japanese Navy Ship to Kochi | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.

Military offices
Preceded by Suraj Berry	Commanding Officer INS Vikramaditya 2015 - 2017	Succeeded by Ajay Kochhar
Preceded by Sanjay Jasjit Singh	Flag Officer Sea Training 2019 - 2020	Succeeded by Rajesh Pendharkar
	Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet 14 February 2020 – 24 February 2021	Succeeded by Ajay Kochhar
Preceded by Ravindra Jayant Nadkarni	Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group February 2021 - November 2021	Succeeded by Mahesh Singh
Preceded by R. B. Pandit	Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command November 2021 - March 2023	Succeeded by Sanjay Bhalla
Preceded by Suraj Berry	Controller of Personnel Services April 2023 - October 2023	Succeeded by Gurcharan Singh
	Chief of Personnel October 2023 - April 2024	Succeeded by Sanjay Bhalla
Preceded by Dinesh K Tripathi	Vice Chief of the Naval Staff 1 May 2024 - 31 July 2025	Succeeded by Sanjay Vatsayan
Preceded by Sanjay Jasjit Singh	Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command 1 August 2025 - Present	Incumbent