Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
New Delhi : Vice Admiral AN Pramod, assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. He succeeds Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti who superannuated on 31 July 2026 after more than 38 years of distinguished service. Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1990 from the 38th Integrated Cadet Course at the Naval Academy, Goa, Vice Admiral Pramod is a CAT 'A' Sea King Air Operations Officer and a Communication and Electronic Warfare Specialist, and an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval Higher Command Course at the Naval War College, Goa.
In a naval career spanning over 36 years, the Flag Officer has held command, operational, instructional, and staff appointments both afloat and ashore. At sea, he served as Executive Officer of the guided missile destroyer INS Rajput and commanded INS Abhay, INS Shardul and the guided missile frigate INS Satpura, besides serving as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet during Operation Snow Leopard following the Galwan incident. He also took part in Operation Vijay in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001.
Ashore, he commanded the Naval Air Station Utkrosh at Sri Vijaya Puram, served as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and held key Naval Headquarters appointments including Joint Director Naval Air Staff and Principal Director Aircraft Acquisition.On promotion to Rear Admiral, he served as Deputy Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. As a Vice Admiral, he was Director General Naval Operations from December 2023 to July 2026, a period during which he played a central role in planning and operational readiness during Operation Sindoor and in maritime security operations amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.
For his distinguished service and operational leadership, Vice Admiral Pramod was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2025. He now takes charge of one of the Navy's most senior appointments at a time of heightened operational focus for the force.Though he was born in Raipur in 1969 while his father was posted for work, Vice Admiral Pramod's Kerala connections run deep through his family heritage. His schooling was at Saint Paul's School in Kuriyachira, Thrissur, followed by Carmel School in Gwalior and Dholpur Military School in Rajasthan.