Rear Admiral Sameer Sanjay Pote, YSM, assumed charge as the 19th Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) of the Indian Navy on May 1, 2026. He took over the prestigious appointment from Rear Admiral Chetan C Chandegave.
An alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Pote was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1996. A specialist in Anti-Submarine Warfare, he brings with him decades of rich operational and staff experience across various key assignments.
Prior to taking charge as FOSM, he served as India’s Defence Adviser to the United Kingdom at the High Commission of India London, where he played a vital role in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
His command experience includes leading INS Sindhuvir, a frontline submarine, reflecting his deep expertise in undersea warfare operations. He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the College of Defence Management.
Rear Admiral Pote’s appointment as Flag Officer Submarines comes at a crucial time as the Indian Navy continues to enhance its underwater combat capabilities and strengthen maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
