A New Leadership Chapter at Naval Headquarters.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod takes charge as new Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod: A strategic transition at the highest levels of the Indian Navy has brought an accomplished veteran to one of its most critical desks. Vice Admiral AN Pramod, AVSM, YSM, officially assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on August 1, 2026.
Stepping into this high-ranking Principal Staff Officer role at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi, Pramod succeeds Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, who superannuated from service after more than 38 years of distinguished service.
Roots in Training and Specialised Air Operations
Pramod’s journey in maritime military service began decades ago. An alumnus of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course at the Naval Academy in Goa, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990.
Over the course of his extensive training, he qualified as a CAT ‘A’ Sea King Air Operations Officer alongside building deep expertise as a Communication and Electronic Warfare Specialist. His academic and professional military education further includes stints at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the Naval Higher Command Course at the Naval War College in Goa.
Three Decades of Afloat and Ashore Command
Spanning more than 36 years, Pramod’s career features a diverse blend of operational, instructional, and command responsibilities across both sea and land formations.
His afloat assignments include serving as the Executive Officer of the guided missile destroyer INS Rajput, as well as commanding three distinct naval vessels:
INS Abhay, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Patrol Vessel
INS Shardul, a large Landing Ship Tank
INS Satpura, a guided missile frigate
Furthermore, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet during Operation Snow Leopard in the wake of the Galwan incident, and took part in historical missions including Operation Vijay in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001.
Ashore, his leadership footprint includes commanding INS Utkrosh—the Naval Air Station at Sri Vijaya Puram—and serving as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College. At Naval Headquarters, he has handled key planning positions such as Joint Director Naval Air Staff, Director, and Principal Director of Aircraft Acquisition. He also lent his expertise to the Tactical Audit Group and the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council.
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Flag Rank and Strategic Operational Roles
Upon his promotion to Rear Admiral, Pramod took on vital administrative and regional commands, serving as Deputy Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
Following his elevation to Vice Admiral, he served as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) from December 2023 through July 2026. Highlighting this crucial tenure, official statements noted that “as DGNO, he was closely involved in the planning, preparedness, and operational readiness of Indian Navy during Operation Sindoor and conduct of maritime security operations during the ongoing West Asia crisis”.
In recognition of his exceptional operational leadership and steadfast devotion to duty, he was decorated with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Yudh Seva Medal in 2025. Now seated as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Pramod brings this battle-tested operational acumen directly to the apex policy-making echelons of the maritime force.
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