Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, (Retd), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 January 1985 and served until 2023, specialising as a submariner and navigation officer.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, Joint Services Command and Staff College (UK) and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai he commanded key platforms including INS Shalki, INS Krishna, INS Rajput, INS Satavahana and India’s first SSBN, INS Arihant as CO (Desig). His senior appointments included Flag Officer Submarines, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area, Deputy C-in-C Strategic Forces Command, and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. His career profile has given him considerable exposure to naval operations and planning. Post-retirement, his expertise in underwater acoustic and bathymetric peculiarities of the Indian Ocean in combination with considerable submarine experience makes him a noted expert on Underwater Domain Awareness and its components. He is also an eminent expert on Sea-based Nuclear Deterrence and is actively engaged in the strategic discourse.
The Admiral is a graduate of JNU, New Delhi. He completed his MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London and M Phil Defence Studies from Mumbai University.