Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Appointed as CNS

The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The present CNS, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, will be retiring from service.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is currently serving as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987, he is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare.

He has held several key operational, staff and training appointments. As Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Southern Naval Command, he contributed to training reforms across the Navy and played a key role in establishing the Indian Naval Safety Team to strengthen operational safety standards.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

A recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, he has commanded INS Vidyut, INS Vinash, INS Kulish, INS Mysore and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

He later headed the Work Up Organisation as Flag Officer Sea Training and served as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. He also held responsibilities as part of the Offshore Defence Advisory Group and as Advisor for Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India.

On elevation to Vice Admiral rank, he served as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, Controller of Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters. Prior to his current assignment, he was Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

His academic qualifications include a BSc from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; MSc in Telecommunications from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London; MPhil in Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai; and PhD in International Studies from the University of Mumbai.