Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command on October 31, 2025. He succeeds Vice Admiral V. Srinivas PVSM, AVSM, NM who superannuated after an illustrious career close to four decades in the Indian Navy.

Both the Flag Officers paid homage to brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the Nation at the SNC War Memorial, Naval Base, Kochi.

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1989 and is a specialist in Navigation & Direction. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College Newport, USA.

The Flag Officer has held several key operational, staff and training appointments. As a non-specialist officer, he served onboard Indian Naval Ships: Ajay, Sukanya and Akshay. 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.

His important appointments ashore include Joint Director of Personnel and Principal Director Foreign Cooperation at Naval Headquarters. He was the Naval Assistant to Chief of the Naval Staff (2011-12), and the Naval Adviser at the High Commission of India, London (2016-19).

On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral on February 5, 2020, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) and was responsible for the Navy's perspective, force level, organisation, financial and infrastructure planning & acquisition. Thereafter, he commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy from December 2021 to November 2022. In November 2022, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area.

On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral on August 1, 2023, the Flag Officer took over the responsibilities of Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. During his tenure, the Command was involved in a wide range of operational and technical activities with focus on foreign cooperation, infrastructure development, community building and education.

He was awarded the Nausena Medal in 2017 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023. He has also been commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Commissioner of Police of Mauritius, both times for acts of gallantry at sea.

He is married to Mrs Laboni Saxena who has been committed to the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association activities over the years.