Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Chief of Personnel. He earlier served as the Controller of Personnel Services, Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group (FODAG), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) and Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). He was the second Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.


Krishna Swaminathan

BornBangalore, Karnataka, India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Navy
Years of serviceJuly 1987 - present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands heldWestern Fleet
INS Vikramaditya (R33)
INS Mysore (D60)
INS Kulish (P63)
INS Vinash (K47)
INS Vidyut (K48)
Awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Spouse(s)Laila[1]
RelationsTyabji family (through wife)

Early life and education edit

Krishna was born to D. Swaminathan and Shanta Swaminathan, both teachers, in Bangalore. The Swaminathans resided in NR Colony in Basavanagudi. He attended the Bishop Cotton Boys' School until the age of 15. He then attended the Sainik School, Bijapur. He subsequently joined and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune.[2]

Naval career edit

Krishna was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. He has completed the staff course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham in the United Kingdom and the higher command course at the College of Naval Warfare in Mumbai. He has also attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in the United States.

Krishna has commanded five front-line ships of the Indian Navy. He has commanded the Veer-class corvettes - INS Vidyut (K48) and INS Vinash (K47), the Kora-class guided-missile corvette INS Kulish (P63) and the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore (D60). He was in command of Mysore during the President's fleet review in 2011. Under his command, the ship participated in INDRA - the joint naval exercise with Russia, in late 2012.[3]

On 2 November 2015, Krishna took command of the flagship of the Indian Navy, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (R33) as its second commanding officer.[4][5] During his command tenure, Vikramaditya was adjudged the Best Ship of the Western Fleet.[6]

In his staff appointments, Krishna has served on the staff of the Western Fleet, has served as an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. As a Commodore, he served as the Naval Assistant (NA) to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Robin K. Dhowan.[7]

Flag rank edit

On promotion to Flag rank, Krishna took over as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) (CSO (Trg)) at the Southern Naval Command, the training command of the Indian Navy, at Kochi. As CSO (Trg), he played a key role in the conduct of all training in the Navy. He was also instrumental in raising the Indian Navy Safety Team (INST) that oversees operational safety across all verticals of the Navy.[8] On 18 March 2019, he assumed the office of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), also at Kochi. As FOST, his charter included the conduct of the operational sea training of all ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.[9]

Krishna took command of the Western Fleet on 14 February 2020 as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.[10][11] For his command of the western fleet, on 26 January 2021, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.[12] In February 2021, he relinquished command of the Western Fleet and was appointed Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group and took over from Rear Admiral Ravindra Jayant Nadkarni.[13][14] After a short stint as FODAG, on 4 November 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command at Mumbai.[15] In April 2023, he was appointed Controller of Personnel Services at naval headquarters.[16] After a short stint as CPS, he was appointed Chief of Personnel on 6 October 2023. In both appointments, CPS and COP, he took over from Vice Admiral Suraj Berry.[17]

Personal life edit

Krishna is married to Laila Swaminathan. The couple has two daughters.[18]

Awards and decorations edit

       
       
     
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Source:[19]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ City lad commands India's largest aircraft carrier. Bangalore Mirror.
  2. ^ Rao R., Sunitha (4 November 2015). "B'luru boy followed dreams to head INS Vikramaditya". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "Joint naval exercise with Russia". The Hindu. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Captain Krishna Swaminathan takes over Command of Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". pib.gov.in.
  5. ^ Desk, OneIndia Defence (2 November 2015). "Bengalurian takes over as Commanding Officer of INS Vikramaditya". oneindia.com.
  6. ^ "Western Fleet Evening 2016 conducted | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Captain Krishna Swaminathan takes over Command of Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". pib.gov.in.
  8. ^ "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS CONTROLLER OF PERSONNEL SERVICES INDIAN NAVY". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM assumes Charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST)". pib.gov.in.
  10. ^ "Rear Admiral Krishna D Swaminathan, VSM Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Mumbai". indiannavy.nic.in.
  11. ^ "Bangalorean Navy officer to take over as Fleet Commander of Western Fleet". Deccan Herald. 14 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Award Winners on Republic Day 2021". pib.gov.in.
  13. ^ "REAR ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE WESTERN FLEET (FOCWF)". PIB. 24 February 2021.
  14. ^ Jun 11, TNN / (11 June 2021). "Before rescue, Navy quelled fear in sailors | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command". pib.gov.in.
  16. ^ "Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh to be new navy vice chief". Hindustan Times. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM assumes charge as Chief of Personnel Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  18. ^ KamathV, ana; Nov 3, ana Kamath / Updated. "City lad commands India's largest aircraft carrier". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 20 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Visit of Japanese Navy Ship to Kochi | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding Officer INS Vikramaditya
2015 - 2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer Sea Training
2019 - 2020
Succeeded by
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
14 February 2020 – 24 February 2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group
February 2021 - November 2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command
November 2021 - March 2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Controller of Personnel Services
April 2023 - October 2023
Succeeded by
Chief of Personnel
October 2023 - Present
Incumbent