Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, PVSM, AVSM, NM Takes Over As The Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Western Naval Command

Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, PVSM, AVSM, NM, assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, at a ceremonial parade held in Mumbai on 30 May 2026. Prior to this appointment, he served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi. On assuming charge, he paid homage to the bravehearts who have made the supreme sacrifice in service to the Nation, at Gaurav Stambh, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.

An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla Pune, the Flag Officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1988. A specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems, he has held a wide range of command, operational, staff and training assignments, both afloat and ashore, during his distinguished naval career spanning more than three decades.

The Flag Officer has served onboard various frontline warships, including command of Coast Guard Ship C-05, Missile Vessels INS Vibhuti and Nashak, Missile Corvette INS Kuthar and Guided Missile Frigate INS Sahyadri. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval War College, Goa and the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi, the Flag Officer has excelled in key strategic and policy-oriented Staff roles. He has discharged staff assignments in the Personnel and Plans Directorates at Naval Headquarters, including that of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) on promotion to Flag rank. He thereafter commanded the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, and served as the Deputy Commandant of the National Defence Academy and Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.

He has also served as Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (DCIDS) – Operations and DCIDS (Policy, Plans and Force Development) at HQIDS, playing a key role in coordination of operations, enhancing integration, jointness, force development and framing policies promoting indigenisation in the three Services. 

Prior to assuming charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, the Flag Officer was the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, responsible for capability development and future readiness of the Indian Navy.     

The Flag Officer is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Nao Sena Medal.