Vice Admiral Gokhale takes charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command

Vice Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale has assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, the Indian Navy said on Friday.

A specialist in Navigation and Direction, Gokhale assumed charge on October 1, it said. He commanded the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy prior to his present role, a defence release said.

VAdm Rahul Vilas Gokhale, YSM, NM, assumed charge as the Chief of Staff #WNC on 01 Oct 25.

VAdm Gokhale was commissioned on 01 Jan 92 and is an alumnus of #NDA, Khadakwasla, #DSSC, Wellington, @InNwc and @ADC_Australia.

A Navigation and Direction specialist, he has… pic.twitter.com/uG6KJ3Dxph

— Western Naval Command (@IN_WNC) October 3, 2025

Gokhale is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; Naval War College, Goa and the Australian Defence College, Canberra.

His command appointments include Executive Officer of INS Kora and Commanding Officer of INS Khukri and INS Kolkata. He has also been Fleet Operations Officer of the Eastern Fleet.

He has also served as Naval Adviser at the Indian High Commission at Islamabad, Pakistan. The officer commanded INS Circars, the premier and oldest establishment on the Eastern Seaboard, prior to being promoted to Flag Rank.