A New
Chapter at Naval Headquarters
On 1 November 2025, Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar
AVSM, VSM assumed charge as the 40th Chief of Materiel (COM) of the Indian
Navy. This key appointment places him in
charge of the Navy’s engineering, weapons and technical support infrastructure.
He succeeds Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh AVSM, VSM, who retires after over 39
years of distinguished service.
Distinguished
Background and Education
Vice Admiral Sivakumar brings a formidable
academic and operational credentials to his new role:
He was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an
Electrical Officer on 1 July 1987, after passing out with the 70th Course at
National Defence Academy.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical
Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Chennai).
He is a postgraduate in Higher Defence
Management from Osmania University and has an MPhil from University of Madras.
He is also an alumnus of the prestigious
National Defence College (NDC).
These qualifications underscore his technical
depth and strategic understanding of defence systems.
A Career of
Engineering Excellence
With over 38 years of service, Vice Admiral
Sivakumar has held a wide range of key appointments:
He served onboard frontline warships including
INS Ranjit, INS Kirpan and INS Akshay.
He commanded the Electrical Training Base, INS
Valsura an important institution in naval electrical engineering and training.
He has held senior technical leadership roles
at both the East and West coasts: including roles in Naval Dockyards, and at
Naval Headquarters directorates of Weapons Equipment and Electrical
Engineering.
As a Flag Officer, he served as Additional
Director General (Technical) for Project Seabird, Chief Staff Officer
(Technical) at the Western Naval Command and Admiral Superintendent Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai.
He was Assistant Chief of Materiel (IT &
Systems) at Naval Headquarters, followed by promotion to Vice Admiral and
appointment as Programme Director, HQ ATVP; later Controller Warship Production
& Acquisition and Director General Naval Projects at Visakhapatnam.
Awards and
Recognition
In recognition of his distinguished service,
Vice Admiral Sivakumar has been honoured with two of India’s prominent service
medals: the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Vishisht Seva
Medal (VSM). These awards highlight his sustained
commitment to excellence in technical leadership and service.
What the
Role of Chief of Materiel Entails
The Chief of Materiel is a Principal Staff
Officer at Naval Headquarters. The role encompasses the life-cycle management
of naval engineering systems including ship and submarine sensors,
electronics, weapons, electrical systems, and related infrastructure. In taking on this role, Vice Admiral Sivakumar
becomes the senior most technical officer in the Indian Navy, responsible for
ensuring that platforms remain combat-ready, well-maintained, and aligned with
modernisation goals.
Looking
Ahead: Key Challenges and Priorities
As Vice Admiral Sivakumar steps into his role,
he faces several core tasks:
Ensuring indigenisation of naval
systems and reducing import dependency, consistent with broader defence goals.
Overseeing maintenance and upgrade of ageing
platforms while guiding new ship-building and acquisition programmes.
Strengthening technical infrastructure across
dockyards, electrical and weapons directorates, ensuring seamless support for
fleet operations.
Managing life-cycle support for both existing
and upcoming naval assets, especially as the Navy pivots towards higher
readiness, networked capabilities and integration of advanced systems.
His prior experience in warship production
& acquisition, naval projects and technical administration places him well
for these priorities.
Transition
and Legacy
He takes over from Vice Admiral Kiran
Deshmukh, who has been credited with steering the Navy’s technical readiness
during prolonged fleet deployments and operations. The smooth transition
reflects the Navy’s emphasis on professional continuity and leadership in its
technical branches.
Vice Admiral Sivakumar’s appointment therefore
marks both continuity and a fresh emphasis on technical modernisation.
Final
Thoughts
Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar’s elevation to the
40th Chief of Materiel underscores the Indian Navy’s recognition of technical
leadership and the increasing importance of engineering and logistics in
maritime strategy. His blend of deep academic credentials, wide-ranging
operational experience and track record in technical and project leadership
positions him well for the demands of the job. At a time when maritime security
and technological readiness are central to India’s naval priorities, his
leadership will be closely watched by both the defence establishment and
industry.
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