Mumbai: The ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, witnessed a significant change in leadership on November 10, 2023. Rear Admiral CR Praveen Nair, NM, assumed the role of Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, succeeding Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty. The transition took place during a ceremonial naval parade held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991, Rear Admiral Nair is an alumnus of the Naval Academy, Goa, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the US Naval War College, Newport, USA. In his previous role, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) at the Naval Headquarters.
Specializing in Communication and Electronic Warfare, Rear Admiral Nair has served on various Indian Naval Ships, including Krishna, Kora, and Mysore. His expertise extends to roles such as Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer, Fleet Communication Officer of the Western Fleet, and Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet. Additionally, he has contributed significantly to naval training, serving in roles such as the Talwar Class Training Team, Directing Staff at Naval War College, Goa, and Officer-in-Charge of Signal School, Kochi. At the Naval Headquarters, he served as Commodore (Personnel).
Rear Admiral Nair has an illustrious command record, having led the missile corvette INS Kirch, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and overseeing the commissioning of the guided missile destroyer INS Chennai.