Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan Takes Helm as 47th Vice Chief of Naval Staff in Major Leadership Shift

Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, a distinguished gunnery and missile systems specialist, assumed charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) on Friday, marking a significant transition in the Indian Navy’s leadership. Commissioned on January 1, 1988, Vatsayan brings over three decades of experience, having served in critical operational, staff, and training roles, including at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy’s 71st course, Vatsayan has commanded key warships, including INS Vibhuti, INS Nashak, INS Kuthar, and INS Sahyadri, where he was the commissioning commanding officer. As Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet from February 2020, he led operations during heightened maritime tensions post-Galwan. His strategic roles include Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy, Plans, and Force Development) and Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. Vatsayan, a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Naval War College, and National Defence College, was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2021) and Nau Sena Medal for his service.

Vatsayan succeeds Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, who assumed the role of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, on July 31, replacing Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh. Swaminathan, commissioned in 1987, paid homage at Mumbai’s Gaurav Stambh. Concurrently, Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty took over as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy, Planning, and Force Development), while Vice Admiral C R Praveen Nair assumed charge as Controller Personnel Services on July 31, following his tenure as Commandant, Indian Naval Academy.

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