Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair Takes Over as Commandant of Indian Naval Academy

Promoted to Rear Admiral in January 2022, Vice Admiral Nair was appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval Headquarters.

Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, NM, assumed command of the Indian Naval Academy on 29th August 2024, succeeding Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty. Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1st July 1991, Vice Admiral Nair is a seasoned Surface Warfare officer with specializations 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, and holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University.

Throughout his distinguished career, Vice Admiral Nair has served in various critical roles. He has been the Signal Communication Officer on several Indian Navy ships and has held the positions of Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet.

Vice Admiral Nair has commanded key naval assets, including the missile corvette INS Kirch, the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai, and the Indian Navy's largest warship, the Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. His shore assignments have been equally significant, including roles as Directing Staff at the Naval War College in Goa, Officer-in-Charge of Signal School, and Commodore (Personnel) at the Directorate of Personnel, Naval Headquarters. He has also been an integral member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council (INSOC) for over three years.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in January 2022, Vice Admiral Nair was appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval Headquarters. Before his elevation to the rank of Vice Admiral and his current appointment as Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, he commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Nair brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership, making him a fitting choice to lead the Indian Naval Academy.