Krishna Swaminathan

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.

In this Indian name, the name Swaminathan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Krishna.

Vice Admiral

Krishna Swaminathan

AVSM, VSM
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

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 11. He then attended the Sainik School, Bijapur. He subsequently joined and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune.[2]

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).

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.[3][4] During his command tenure, Vikramaditya was adjudged the Best Ship of the Western Fleet.[5]

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.[6]

Flag rank

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.[7] 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.[8]

Krishna took command of the Western Fleet on 14 February 2020 as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.[9][10] For his command of the western fleet, on 26 January 2021, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.[11] 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.[12][13] 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.[14] In April 2023, he was appointed Controller of Personnel Services at naval headquarters.[15] 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.[16]

Personal life

Krishna is married to Laila Swaminathan. The couple has two daughters.[17]

Awards and decorations
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:[18]

See also

References
  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. "Captain Krishna Swaminathan takes over Command of Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". pib.gov.in.
  4. Desk, OneIndia Defence (2 November 2015). "Bengalurian takes over as Commanding Officer of INS Vikramaditya". oneindia.com.
  5. "Western Fleet Evening 2016 conducted | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  6. "Captain Krishna Swaminathan takes over Command of Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya". pib.gov.in.
  7. "VICE ADMIRAL KRISHNA SWAMINATHAN, AVSM, VSM ASSUMES CHARGE AS CONTROLLER OF PERSONNEL SERVICES INDIAN NAVY". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  8. "Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM assumes Charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST)". pib.gov.in.
  9. "Rear Admiral Krishna D Swaminathan, VSM Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Mumbai". indiannavy.nic.in.
  10. "Bangalorean Navy officer to take over as Fleet Commander of Western Fleet". Deccan Herald. 14 February 2020.
  11. "Distinguished Service and Gallantry Award Winners on Republic Day 2021". pib.gov.in.
  12. "REAR ADMIRAL AJAY KOCHHAR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE WESTERN FLEET (FOCWF)". PIB. 24 February 2021.
  13. Jun 11, TNN / (11 June 2021). "Before rescue, Navy quelled fear in sailors | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  14. "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command". pib.gov.in.
  15. "Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh to be new navy vice chief". Hindustan Times. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  16. "Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan AVSM VSM assumes charge as Chief of Personnel Indian Navy". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  17. KamathV, ana; Nov 3, ana Kamath / Updated. "City lad commands India's largest aircraft carrier". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  18. "Visit of Japanese Navy Ship to Kochi | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
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