Rear Admiral Arvind Rawal has taken over as the Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at the Western Naval Command (WNC) on 10 December 2025, bringing with him more than three decades of rich operational, technical and leadership experience.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1992, the Admiral is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) Khadakwasla, the Naval War College (NWC) Goa and the National Defence College (NDC) New Delhi.
Over a distinguished career spanning 33 years, Rear Admiral Rawal has served in several key appointments both in India and abroad. His operational tenures include serving onboard frontline warships such as INS Ranvijay, INS Rajput and INS Shivalik. He has also commanded INS Shivaji, the Navy’s premier technical training establishment.
His staff appointments include three significant tenures at Naval Headquarters and an overseas assignment as Technical Advisor at the High Commission of India in Victoria, Seychelles.
Upon promotion to Flag Rank on 1 February 2024, Rear Admiral Rawal served as Director General Project-75—India’s prestigious submarine construction programme—and later as Assistant Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refit) at Naval Headquarters.
By assuming the role of Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at WNC, Rear Admiral Rawal is set to play a pivotal role in overseeing technical operations, maintenance support and capability enhancement across the Navy’s premier command.
