Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a serving flag officer of the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. He previously served as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning & Force Development), as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence (Operations) and as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.
Early life and education He is an alumnus of the 71st Course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Naval War College, Goa and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
Naval career The flag officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1988. In a career spanning over three decades, he has tenanted numerous staff and command appointments. He has a specialisation in Gunnery & missile systems and has vast experience at sea and ashore. He has served on the Samar-class offshore patrol vessel ICGS Sangram and was part of the commissioning crew of the Delhi-class Guided missile destroyer . He has commanded the Coast Guard Ship C-05 the Veer-class missile boats and , the Khukri-class corvette and was the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the Shivalik-class Guided missile frigate . His staff appointment include serving as the Joint Director of Personnel, Director of Personnel (Policy), as the Director Naval Plans (Perspective Planning) and the Principal Director Naval Plans at the Naval HQ.
Flag rank On promotion to Flag rank in February 2018, Vatsayan took over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans). On 10 February 2020, he assumed the appointment as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. In February 2021, he relinquished command of the Eastern Fleet and was appointed as the Deputy Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
After getting promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and he assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command on 16 December 2021. After a stint of over eighteen months as COS, he moved to the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters. On 9 August 2023, he assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence (Operations) and was subsequently moved as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning & Force Development) on 1 December 2023.
On 1 August 2025, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan took over as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff succeeding Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan who moved to Western Naval Command as its FOCinC. On 30 May 2026, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, taking over again from Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
Awards and decorations Vatsayan has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and the Nao Sena Medal in 2017.
Param Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva MedalNau Sena MedalSamanya Seva MedalSpecial Service MedalOperation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram MedalSainya Seva MedalVidesh Seva Medal75th Anniversary of Independence Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal
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