Commodore Mahesh Moudgil assumed charge as Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at Headquarters Southern Naval Command (HQ SNC) on January 7, 2026, taking over from Commodore Sarvpreet Singh in a formal transition.
A Gunnery and Missile Warfare specialist, Cmde Moudgil is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, Quantico. He brings extensive sea-going and operational experience to the appointment, having commanded frontline warship INS Kochi and served as the Commissioning Commanding Officer of INS Kadmatt.
Over the course of his career, Cmde Moudgil has held key staff appointments at both the Western Fleet and the Eastern Fleet, contributing to operational planning and execution across diverse maritime theatres. His professional excellence has been recognised with prestigious accolades, including the Sword of Honour and the Admiral Ram Das Katari Trophy.
As Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Cmde Moudgil is expected to play a pivotal role in overseeing operational preparedness, training, and maritime security initiatives under the Southern Naval Command—reinforcing the Navy’s focus on readiness, jointness, and mission effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region.
