Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula takes command of Indian Navy’s Western Fleet
Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula assumes command of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet. Image: PIB.
New Delhi: Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula, VSM, has taken over as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). He succeeded Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya, NM, in a change-of-command ceremony on Wednesday, placing Maddula in charge of one of the Indian Navy’s principal combat formations.
Known as the “Sword Arm” of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet is based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command and operates across the Arabian Sea and western Indian Ocean. It comprises many of the Navy’s frontline warships, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes and fleet support vessels.
As fleet commander, Maddula will oversee the operational readiness of these ships and maritime security in the western theatre. His responsibilities will also include naval exercises and any combat or humanitarian response operations that may be required.
Before this appointment, Maddula served as assistant chief of the naval staff (foreign cooperation and intelligence) at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. In that role, he was responsible for naval diplomacy, relations with foreign navies, and the coordination of maritime intelligence.
The Western Fleet has traditionally been one of the Navy’s most significant operational commands. Its role in safeguarding India’s interests across the Arabian Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region has made it a key posting for senior naval officers.
About Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula
Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula, VSM, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1994. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College, and brings more than three decades of operational and leadership experience to the role.
Over his career, he has commanded several key naval platforms, including INFAC T-80, INS Nipat, INS Godavari, INS Ganga, INS Trikand, and the base depot ship INS Kadamba. His appointments have spanned both sea commands and shore-based staff roles across the Navy.
He previously served as flag officer Sea Training at Southern Naval Command in Kochi, where he was responsible for preparing Indian Navy ships and crews for operational deployment. This was followed by his tenure at Naval Headquarters, where he oversaw foreign cooperation and intelligence matters.
His career has also included significant work in maritime intelligence and network-centric operations. Through these roles, he has played a part in strengthening India’s ties with friendly foreign navies.
