​Kochi: Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena assumed charge as the new Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi on Friday. 

​He succeeds Vice Admiral V Srinivas, who superannuated after an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades in the Indian Navy.  

​Before taking charge, both Vice Admiral Saxena and Srinivas paid homage to the nation's fallen heroes by laying wreaths at the SNC War Memorial located at the Naval Base.

​Prior to this appointment, Vice Admiral Saxena served as the Chief of Staff at the Eastern Naval Command. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1989.  

​A specialist in Navigation and Direction, he has held several key operational and staff appointments. He commanded the Western Fleet, the sword arm of the Indian Navy, from December 2021 to November 2022. His other key appointments include Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) at the Naval Headquarters.  

​His command tenures at sea include the Mauritian Coast Guard ship Guardian and Indian Naval ships Kulish and Mysore. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Naval War College, USA.  

​The Flag Officer is a recipient of the Nau Sena Medal (2017) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) for his distinguished service.