Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Controller Personnel Services (CPS) on 31 July 2025. On assuming charge, the Flag Officer paid solemn homage at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.
Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 July 1991. A Surface Warfare Officer, he is a specialist in Communications and Electronic Warfare. He has held a wide range of command, operational and staff appointments over his distinguished naval career spanning more than three decades. The Flag officer’s specialist tenures were onboard INS Krishna, Kora and Mysore. He served as Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and thereafter as the Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet. As Fleet Communication Officer, he was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation for his role in the non-combatant evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut during the Israel-Lebanon war in July 2006. He was also the Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet in 2018-2019.
The Flag Officer has commanded Missile Corvette INS Kirch, Guided Missile Destroyer INS Chennai and Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. His appointments ashore include Directing Staff at the prestigious Naval War College Goa, Officer-in-Charge Signal School, and Cmde (Pers) at Directorate of Personnel, Naval Headquarters. He has also been a member of the Indian Naval Strategic and Operational Council (INSOC) – Indian Navy’s premier think tank for over three years.
He is an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington and the US Naval War College, Newport, USA. While undergoing the Naval Command Course at the US Naval War College, the Flag Officer was awarded the prestigious Robert E. Bateman’s International award, Vice Admiral James H. Doyle, Military Operations and International Law Prize and the International Leadership Prize. The Flag Officer also holds an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from Mumbai University. He was conferred with Nao Sena Medal for Devotion to Duty on 26 Jan 2000 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 25.
On elevation to Flag rank, he was appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at the Naval Headquarters. The Maritime Capability Perspective Plan – MCPP 2022-37 and Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan – MIPP 2022-37 were promulgated under his watch as ACNS (P&P). The Flag Officer commanded the Western Fleet – the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy in 2023-24, where he spearheaded Operation Sankalp. Prior taking over as CPS on 31 July 2025, he was the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy.
