Vice Admiral AN Pramod AVSM YSM has assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff with effect from 1 August 2026.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1990, Vice Admiral AN Pramod is an alumnus of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course at the Naval Academy, Goa. He is a Category ‘A’ Sea King Air Operations Officer, 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.
During a distinguished naval career spanning more than 36 years, he has held a range of operational, command, instructional and staff appointments. His command assignments include INS Abhay, INS Shardul, INS Satpura and INS Utkrosh, while he also served 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.
At Naval Headquarters, Vice Admiral AN Pramod served in key appointments including Joint Director Naval Air Staff, Director and Principal Director Aircraft Acquisition. Following his promotion to Rear Admiral, he held the appointments of Deputy Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
On promotion to Vice Admiral, he served as Director General Naval Operations from 13 December 2023 to 31 July 2026. During his tenure, he was closely involved in planning and maintaining the operational readiness of the Indian Navy during Operation Sindoor and maritime security operations amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.
In recognition of his distinguished service and operational leadership, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2025.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod succeeds Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti UYSM AVSM VSM, who retired on 31 July 2026 after more than 38 years of service in the Indian Navy.
