Sri Vijaya Puram, June 1: Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, AVSM assumed charge as the 20th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command on 01 June 2026.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1989, the Flag Officer is a specialist in Gunnery and Missiles. An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the National Defence College, New Delhi, he brings over 36 years of distinguished service across operational, staff, training and tri-service domains.
His sea tenures include serving as part of the commissioning crew of INS Delhi and completing all specialist appointments onboard the frontline destroyer. He has commanded INS Ajay, INS Khanjar and INS Shivalik.
Key staff and training roles include Training Commander at the Indian Naval Academy, Command Plans Officer at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, and Commodore Naval Plans at Naval Headquarters. On promotion to Flag Rank in 2020, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Staff Requirements), Controller of Personnel Services, and commanded the Western Fleet as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) in 2023. He was the tenth Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy in 2024.
Prior to his current appointment, he held consecutive tri-service appointments at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy, Plans and Force Development) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training) during 2025–26.
His overseas assignments include serving as Directing Staff at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Sri Lanka, and as Defence Advisor to Singapore and the Philippines concurrently from 2011 to 2015.
Vice Admiral McCarty has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service.
On assuming charge as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command, Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty emphasised the strategic significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Command in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and ensuring stability and security in the Indian Ocean Region. He reaffirmed his commitment towards enhancing operational preparedness, strengthening jointness and synergy amongst the Services, and further reinforcing ANC’s role as India’s only Tri-Service Operational Command and a vital pillar of national security in the Indo-Pacific region.