Mumbai, July 30: Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula has assumed command of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, succeeding Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya in a Change of Guard ceremony held on July 27, 2026. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition in one of the Indian Navy’s premier operational formations, often referred to as the “Sword Arm” of the Navy due to its frontline role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
Rear Admiral Maddula brings with him extensive operational, command, and staff experience spanning several decades of distinguished naval service. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he has also undergone professional military education at the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College (USMCCSC) in Virginia, USA, and the Indian Naval War College (INWC), Goa.
Throughout his career, Rear Admiral Maddula has held several key command appointments both at sea and ashore. His command assignments include INS Nipat, INS Ganga, INS Godavari, and the stealth frigate INS Trikand, giving him extensive experience in leading frontline warships across diverse operational environments.
He has also commanded INS Kadamba, the Indian Navy’s strategically important base depot ship, and INFACT 80, further strengthening his credentials in logistics, fleet support, and operational administration.
Following his promotion to Flag Rank, Rear Admiral Maddula served as the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) under the Southern Naval Command at Kochi. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing operational training and evaluating the combat readiness of naval ships and crews before deployment. Subsequently, he served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) [ACNS (FCI)] at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi, where he played an important role in enhancing international naval cooperation and supporting strategic maritime initiatives.
As the new Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Maddula will be responsible for leading one of the Indian Navy’s most powerful fleet formations. Headquartered in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command, the Western Fleet comprises aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, fleet support ships, and other frontline combat assets that safeguard India’s western seaboard and maritime interests in the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean Region.
The Western Fleet plays a critical role in maritime security, power projection, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), joint military exercises, and maintaining a strong naval presence across strategically significant sea lanes. It also remains at the forefront of operational preparedness to address emerging maritime security challenges.
The Change of Guard ceremony marked the formal transfer of command from Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya, who led the fleet through an important phase of operational deployments, exercises, and capability enhancement. The Indian Navy acknowledged his leadership and contributions while welcoming Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula to his new command.
With his diverse operational experience, international military education, and leadership across multiple command and staff appointments, Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula is expected to further strengthen the Western Fleet’s operational effectiveness, combat readiness, and contribution to India’s maritime security objectives in an increasingly dynamic strategic environment.
