Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty Becomes 20th Commander-in-Chief of ANC

Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty has assumed charge as the 20th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s only tri-service operational command , according to an official statement.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1989 , Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty is a gunnery and missile warfare specialist with over 36 years of distinguished service spanning operational, staff, training, and joint service appointments.

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington , and the National Defence College, New Delhi , he was part of the commissioning crew of INS Delhi and has served in several specialist roles aboard frontline warships. He has commanded INS Ajay , INS Khanjar , and the stealth frigate INS Shivalik , gaining extensive operational command experience.

His key shore appointments include serving as Training Commander at the Indian Naval Academy, Command Plans Officer at Eastern Naval Command Headquarters, and Commodore Naval Plans at Naval Headquarters. After being promoted to Flag Rank in 2020, he held senior roles such as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Staff Requirements), Controller of Personnel Services , and Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet in 2023.

He also served as the 10th Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy in 2024. Prior to taking charge of ANC, he held key tri-service roles at the Integrated Defence Staff , focusing on policy, doctrine, organisation, and force development during 2025-26.

His overseas assignments include instructional and advisory roles in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and the Philippines .

The Navy said his extensive experience across operations, strategy, and joint planning is expected to further enhance jointness and operational preparedness at the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar Command.