New Delhi: In a significant naval appointment, Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Controller Personnel Services (CPS) on 31 July 2025. Marking the occasion with solemnity and reverence, the Flag Officer paid tribute at the National War Memorial in the capital before formally taking charge.
Three Decades of Tactical Mastery and Operational Excellence
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1991, Vice Admiral Nair brings over 34 years of extensive operational and command experience to his new role. A Surface Warfare Officer with specialization in Communications and Electronic Warfare, his early tenures included deployments aboard frontline warships like INS Krishna, INS Kora, and INS Mysore.
As Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and later as Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet, he showcased exceptional operational capabilities. His commendable performance during the non-combatant evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut amid the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict earned him the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation.
From 2018 to 2019, he served as Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet further deepening his engagement with critical theatre-level operations.
Commanding the Frontline: From INS Kirch to Vikramaditya
Vice Admiral Nair has held command of some of the Navy’s most formidable platforms, including the missile corvette INS Kirch, the guided missile destroyer INS Chennai, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. His leadership at sea is matched by his shore-based tenures, including key roles as Directing Staff at the Naval War College, Goa; Officer-in-Charge at the Signal School; and Commodore Personnel at the Directorate of Personnel, Naval HQ.
As a core member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council (INSOC), he contributed significantly to long-term strategic planning and capability development over a three-year period.
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Global Acclaim and Academic Distinction
An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the US Naval War College in Newport, USA, Vice Admiral Nair’s international academic record is exceptional. While at Newport, he received the Robert E. Bateman’s International Award, Vice Admiral James H. Doyle Military Operations and International Law Prize, and the International Leadership Prize, an unprecedented trifecta of accolades.
He also holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University. For his professional excellence, he was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in 2000 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on Republic Day 2025.
Architect of Modern Maritime Policy
Elevated to Flag rank, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), overseeing the formulation of the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) 2022–37 and the Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan (MIPP) 2022–37; two landmark documents shaping India’s maritime future.
He later commanded the powerful Western Fleet in 2023–24, where he led Operation Sankalp, a crucial deployment safeguarding Indian maritime interests in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Before taking charge as CPS, he was the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, nurturing the next generation of naval leaders.
