Vice Admiral

Sameer Saxena

AVSM, NM
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Navy
Years of serviceJuly 1989 - present
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands heldGujarat Naval Area
Western Fleet
INS Mysore (D60)
INS Kulish (P63)
MCGS Guardian
Awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Nao Sena Medal

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, AVSM, NM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area, as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and as the Naval adviser to the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom at India House, London.

Early life and education

Saxena was born to Commodore MML Saxena, an officer in the Indian Navy. His uncle, Commodore HML Saxena, also was a naval officer. The Saxena brothers, HML and MML, both served on INS Vikrant as the executive officer and the navigation officer respectively during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.[1][2]

Saxena joined and graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune. He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.[3]

Saxena was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1989 from the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. He is a specialist in navigation and direction. He served in the direction team of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22). He also served as the navigation officer of the Khukri-class corvette INS Kuthar (P46), the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates INS Godavari (F20) and the lead ship of her class of guided missile destroyers INS Delhi (D61).[4]

In his staff appointments, Saxena has served in the Directorate of personnel and as the Naval Assistant (NA) to the Chief of the Naval Staff. He also served as the Principal Director of Foreign Cooperation at NHQ. He also served in training appointments at his alma mater, the National Defence Academy, and the Centre for Leadership and Behavioural Studies.[5]

Saxena has commanded the Seaward-class defense boat of the Mauritius Coast Guard, MCGS Guardian. He subsequently commanded the Kora-class corvette INS Kulish (P63). He then served as the executive officer of the Delhi-class destroyer INS Mumbai (D62) and commanded another ship of the same class of guided missile destroyers INS Mysore (D60).

In March 2016, as a Commodore, he was appointed the Naval advisor to the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom at the High Commission of India, London. The High Commissioners during his tenure were Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha and Ruchi Ghanashyam.[6][7] On 26 January 2017, he was awarded the Nau Sena Medal for devotion to duty.[8]

Flag rank

Saxena was promoted to flag rank in February 2020 and was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) (ACNS P&P) at naval headquarters. He took command of the Western Fleet on 27 December 2021 as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet from Rear Admiral Ajay Kochhar.[3] After a tenure of about a year as FOCWF, Saxena relinquished charge and handed over command to Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty on 15 November 2022. On 29 November, he took over charge as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area (FOGNA).[9] On 26 January 2023, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his tenure as FOCWF.[10] On 1 August 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command.[11]

Awards and decorations

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Nao Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Bibliography

  • Hiranandani, G.M. (2000), Transition to triumph: History of the Indian Navy 1965-75, Lancer Publishers, ISBN 978-1897829721

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kesnur, Srikant [@srikantkesnur] (10 May 2021). "6/n. Lt Cdr (later Cmde) MML Saxena was the navigator of Vikrant. Possibly, a rare occurrence in our Navy of siblings being posted on same ship & in war together. While the accompanying tweet of @NwcSam gives his career highlights & rich decorations, we must not forget that" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Hiranandani 2000.
  3. 1 2 "CHANGE OF COMMAND OF WESTERN FLEET". www.pib.gov.in.
  4. ↑ "Change of Command of Western Fleet Rear Admiral Sameer Saxena, NM takes over as Fleet Commander of Sword Arm | Indian Navy". indiannavy.nic.in.
  5. ↑ "Rear Admiral Sameer Saxena takes over as fleet commander of Sword Arm". NewsExpress. 28 December 2021.
  6. ↑ Royal Navy in Scotland [@RNinScotland] (22 August 2017). "India's Naval Attache Commodore Sameer Saxena @RoyalNavy guest of honour at @EdinburghTattoo on Saturday #SplashofTartan https://t.co/Rr2dAfdSKE" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "High Commission of India, London, United Kingdom : Former High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom". www.hcilondon.gov.in.
  8. ↑ "398 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced". www.pib.gov.in.
  9. ↑ Gujarat Naval Area [@IN_GDD] (29 November 2022). "RAdm Sameer Saxena, NM took over Command of @IN_GDD as FOGNA today 29 Nov at a ceremonial parade at #Porbandar. RAdm Manish Chadha, VSM relinquished command & now proceeds to NHQ as ACOP (AC) #CombatReady #Credible #Cohesive #FutureProof #HarKaamDeshKeNaam #IndianNavy @indiannavy https://t.co/MtUtCIfkKx" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "President approves 412 Gallantry awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "https://twitter.com/PRO_Vizag/status/1686742317984575488". Twitter. Retrieved 2 August 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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