A. N. Pramod Explained

Honorific Prefix:Vice Admiral
A. N. Pramod
Honorific Suffix:AVSM
Serviceyears:July 1990 – present
Rank: Vice Admiral
Commands:INS Utkrosh


Awards: Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Vice Admiral A. N. Pramod, AVSM is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Director General Naval Operations. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area and as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Naval Academy.

Early life and education

Pramod attended the Naval Academy, Goa as part of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course.[1]

Naval career

Pramod was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1990. He is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. He trained as a naval aviator and qualified as a Naval Air Operations Officer. He underwent the Sea King observer course where he qualified as a 'Cat A' observer. He was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy for standing first in flying training/ground subjects and the Uttar Pradesh trophy for being first in the Overall Order of Merit.[2]

Pramod stood second in the Long Communication Course. In his early years, he served as the Gunnery Officer II (GO II) of the Khukri-class corvette and as the Signal and Communications officer (SCO) of the Sukanya-class patrol vessel . He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He served as Joint Director of Naval Air Staff and as the Joint Director of Aircraft Acquisition at naval headquarters.[3]

Pramod commanded the lead ship of her class of anti-submarine warfare corvettes and the lead ship of her class of Amphibious warfare vessels . He served as the executive officer of the lead ship of her class of guided missile destroyers . He then commanded the Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate . He led Satpura during the International Fleet Review 2016.

In the rank of Captain, he attended the Naval Higher Command Course at the Naval War College, Goa. He also served as Directing Staff at his alma-mater, the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington Cantonment. At NHQ, he served as the Director of Aircraft Acquisition. As a Commodore, Pramod commanded the Indian naval air station INS Utkrosh at Port Blair. He also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. At NHQ, he served as the Principal Director of Aircraft Acquisition.[4]

Flag rank

Pramod was promoted to flag rank in January 2021 and was appointed Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Naval Academy on 11 January 2021. After an fourteen-month stint, on 1 April 2022, he moved to Naval headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) (ACNS (Air)).[5] In November that year, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA). He took over from Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta on 28 November 2022.[6] After a year-long tenure, he relinquished charge and handed over to Rear Admiral Manish Chadha. For his tenure as FOMA, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2024.[7] In the same month, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed Director General Naval Operations at NHQ.[8]

Personal life

Pramod is married to Ambili Pramod. The couple has a daughter, Chitranjali, and a son, Siddhanta.

Awards and decorations

Ati Vishisht Seva MedalSamanya Seva MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal75th Independence Anniversary Medal50th Independence Anniversary Medal30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Deputy Commandant INA . 23 April 2023 . 18 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418142054/https://www.ina.gov.in/?q=Deputy_commandant . 2021-04-18 .
  2. Web site: Rear Admiral AN Pramod Assumes Charge as Deputy Commandant Indian Naval Academy Indian Navy . indiannavy.nic.in . 23 April 2023.
  3. Web site: REAR ADMIRAL AN PRAMOD ASSUMES CHARGE AS FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING MAHARASTRA NAVAL AREA (FOMA) . pib.gov.in . 23 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Rear Admiral AN Pramod assumes charge as Flag Officer Commanding Maharastra Naval Area (FOMA) Indian Navy . indiannavy.nic.in . 23 April 2023.
  5. Web site: REAR ADMIRAL AJAY D THEOPHILUS ASSUMES CHARGE AS DEPUTY COMMANDANT, INA INA . www.ina.gov.in . 23 April 2023.
  6. Web site: Change of Guard at Western Naval Command — Transcontinental Times . transcontinentaltimes.com . 23 April 2023 . 30 November 2022.
  7. Web site: 75th REPUBLIC DAY PRESIDENT APPROVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND GALLANTRY AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL . pib.gov.in . 26 January 2024.
  8. Web site: ANI . twitter.com . 15 January 2024.