Vice Admiral AN Pramod takes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
New Delhi, Aug 1. Vice Admiral AN Pramod on August 1 assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, succeeding Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, who retired on July 31 after more than 38 years of service in the Indian Navy.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990, as part of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course at the Naval Academy, Goa, Vice Admiral Pramod is a Category ‘A’ Sea King Air Operations Officer and a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval Higher Command Course at the Naval War College, Goa.
During a naval career spanning over 36 years, the Flag Officer has held several operational, command, instructional and staff appointments both at sea and ashore. His sea commands include INS Abhay, an anti-submarine warfare patrol vessel, INS Shardul, a landing ship tank (large), and the guided missile frigate INS Satpura. He also served as Executive Officer of the guided missile destroyer INS Rajput and as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet during Operation Snow Leopard following the Galwan incident. He participated in Operation Vijay in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001.
Ashore, Vice Admiral Pramod commanded INS Utkrosh, the naval air station at Sri Vijaya Puram, and served as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. At Naval Headquarters, he held key appointments as Joint Director Naval Air Staff, Director Aircraft Acquisition and Principal Director Aircraft Acquisition. He was also a member of the Tactical Audit Group between 2006 and 2009 and the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council from 2016 to 2019.
After being promoted 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.
Before assuming his new appointment, Vice Admiral Pramod served as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) from December 13, 2023, to July 31, 2026. In that role, he played a key part in planning, preparedness and maintaining the Navy’s operational readiness during Operation Sindoor, besides overseeing maritime security operations amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
In recognition of 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 over as the Navy’s Deputy Chief, a key appointment responsible for operational planning, force development and capability enhancement, following the retirement of Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti.
