Vice Admiral Vennam Srinivas, AVSM, NM is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command. He previously served as the Inspector General Nuclear Safety, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA) and as the Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM).


Vennam Srinivas

Srinivas pictured here as a Rear Admiral
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Navy
Years of serviceJuly 1987 – Present
RankVice Admiral
Commands held
AwardsAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Nao Sena Medal

Naval career edit

Srinivas was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He specialised in anti-submarine warfare and joined the submarine arm where he has served for over 30 years. He served onboard the Shishumar-class submarines INS Shalki (S46), INS Shishumar (S44), and INS Shankul (S47) during Operation Vijay. In his staff appointments, he served as Commander (Submarines) at Commodore Commanding Submarines (West) at Mumbai and as the Chief Staff Officer to Flag Officer Submarines.[1]

He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College, Goa where he was awarded the Commander-in-Chief's Silver Medal. He also attended the Senior Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.[1]

He has commanded two conventional submarines including the Shishumar-class diesel-electric attack submarine INS Shankul (S47) and the Rajput-class Guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvir (D54). He then commanded the nuclear-powered attack submarine Chakra.[2]

As a Commodore, Srinivas served as Principal Director Ship Systems and Development (PDSSD) at naval headquarters. He then commanded the Navy’s submarine training establishment INS Satavahana at Visakhapatnam.[1]

Flag rank edit

On 24 October 2016, Srinivas was appointed Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM), taking over from Rear Admiral Sanjay Mahindru.[3] He had a long tenure as FOSM, till February 2020. On 8 February, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area and took over from Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar.[4] After a year-long tenure, he moved to NHQ to head the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. He subsequently was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and was appointed Inspector General Nuclear Safety.[5]

He was appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command on 5 December 2023, and assumed the office on 31 December 2023 succeeding Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi.[6][1]

Awards and decorations edit

Srinivas was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in 2009 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.

       
       
   
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nau Sena Medal Operation Vijay Star Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "VICE ADMIRAL V SRINIVAS TAKES OVER AS THE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF, SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND, KOCHI". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Rear Admiral Vennam Srinivas Takes Over as Flag Officer Submarines". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Rear Admiral Vennam Srinivas is new Flag Officer Submarines". The Economic Times. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Rear Admiral V Srinivas Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area". indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Major Reshuffle In Navy, V Adm Hari Kumar To Head Western Command". businessworld.in. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Major reshuffle in Navy: Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to be new Vice Chief". PTC News. 5 December 2023.


Military offices
Preceded by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command
1 January 2024 - Present
Incumbent
Preceded by Inspector General Nuclear Safety
2021 – December 2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area
2020 – 2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Flag Officer Submarines
2016 - 2020
Succeeded by
A. Y. Sardesai