ReinaSligo4: Done

2026-04-02T14:38:00Z

Done

New page

{{short description|Indian Navy Admiral}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| name = Rahul Vilas Gokhale
| honorific_suffix = [[Yudh Seva Medal|YSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = File:Vice Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{navy|India}}
| serviceyears = 1 January 1992 – present
| rank = [[File:British Royal Navy (sleeves) OF-8.svg|20px]] [[File:13-Indian Navy-VADM.svg|20px]] [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| servicenumber = 03857-R <ref>{{cite web |title=President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156515 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>
| unit =
| commands = [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] [[INS Circars]] {{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}} {{ship|INS|Khukri|P49}}
| battles =
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:Yudh_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Yudh Seva Medal]] [[File:Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Nao Sena Medal]]
| alma_mater = [[Indian Naval Academy]]
| spouse = 
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| website =
| memorials =
| module =
}}

[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] '''Rahul Vilas Gokhale''', [[Yudh Seva Medal|YSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]] is a serving Flag officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff, [[Western Naval Command]]. He was the [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]] during [[Operation Sindoor]] for which he was awarded the [[Yudh Seva Medal]]. He earlier command the naval base [[INS Circars]] and the [[guided missile destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}}.

==Naval career==
Gokhale attended the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] and was commissioned into the [[Indian Navy]] on 1 January 1992. He later specialized in Navigation and Direction. He has served on board, as the navigating officer, the [[Sukanya-class patrol vessel]] {{ship|INS|Subhadra|P51}}, the [[Nilgiri-class frigate (1972)|Nilgiri-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Udaygiri|F35}}, the [[Kora-class corvette]] {{ship|INS|Kirch|P62}} and the [[Godavari-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Gomati|F21}}.<ref name="TH">{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale is new FOST |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/rear-admiral-rahul-vilas-gokhale-is-new-fost/article65379254.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=24 August 2024 |language=en-IN |date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

Gokhale served as the [[executive officer]] of the [[Kora-class corvette]] {{ship|INS|Kora|P61}} and commanded the lead ship of [[Khukri-class corvette|her class]] of corvettes, {{ship|INS|Khukri|P49}}. He attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]]. He was the navigating officer of [[Delhi-class destroyer|her class]] of [[guided missile destroyer]]s {{ship|INS|Delhi|D61}}.

Gokhale attended the Naval higher command course at the [[Naval War College, Goa]]. He served as the Director of Personnel Policy at naval headquarters. He also served as the [[Naval attache|Naval Advisor]] at the [[High Commission of India, Islamabad]]. He also attended the [[Australian Defence College]], Canberra. He commanded the lead ship of [[Kolkata-class destroyer|her class]] of [[stealth ship|stealth]] [[guided-missile destroyer]]s, {{ship|INS|Kolkata|D63}}.<ref name="FOCWF"/> During his tenure as Commanding Officer, ''Kolkata'' sailed on a two-month deployment to the Western Indian Ocean and called on multiple African ports to promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good will visit by Indian naval ships to Kenya |url=https://www.hcinairobi.gov.in/eoinrb_listview/NTc2 |website=hcinairobi.gov.in |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
[[File:RAdm Rahul Vilas Gokhale, NM Takes Over as Flag Officer Sea Training 01.jpg|right|thumb|RAdm Gokhale taking over as [[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|FOST]] from RAdm [[Rajesh Dhankhar]].]]

As a [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]], Gokhale served as the Fleet Operations Officer (FOO) of the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]]. On 29 May 2020, he took over as the 23rd Commanding Officer of the naval base [[INS Circars]] and as the station commander, Visakhapatnam. The oldest naval establishment on East Coast, ''Circars'' is the base depot ship providing administrative and logistics support to the Headquarters of the [[Eastern Naval Command]] and a large number of units based in and around Visakhapatnam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vizag Appointments - Commodore Rahul Vilas Gokhale takes over INS Circars |url=https://vizagcityonline.com/appointments/Commodore-Rahul-Vilas-Gokhale-takes-over-INS-Circars.htm |website=vizagcityonline.com |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bhattacharjee |first1=Sumit |title=Commodore A.S. Dadwal takes over command of INS Circars |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/commodore-as-dadwal-takes-over-command-of-ins-circars/article65342344.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=24 August 2024 |language=en-IN |date=21 April 2022}}</ref> On 26 January 2021, he was awarded the [[Nao Sena Medal]] for devotion to duty.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Shri Ram Nath Kovind approves 455 Gallantry & other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692363 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

===Flag rank===
Gokhale was promoted to flag rank in May 2022 and was appointed [[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|Flag Officer Sea Training]] (FOST), at [[Kochi]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=India |first1=The Hans |title=Visakhapatnam: Commodore Dadwal new co of INS Circars |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/visakhapatnam/visakhapatnam-commodore-dadwal-new-co-of-ins-circars-739242 |website=www.thehansindia.com |access-date=24 August 2024 |language=en |date=22 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Naval Command |url=https://x.com/IN_HQSNC/status/1640394350143377410 |website=x.com |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> As FOST, his charter included the conduct of the operational sea training of all ships of the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Coast Guard]].<ref name="TH" /> After a year-long tenure, he relinquished charge and handed over to Rear Admiral [[Susheel Menon]]. He then moved to naval headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD) (ACOP HRD).<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokesperson Navy |url=https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1794375157714419724 |website=x.com |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=15th IndianNavy-Republic of Singapore Navy Staff Talks |url=https://alumni.indiannavy.gov.in/observer-school/news-details/3lZ1kX |website=alumni.indiannavy.gov.in |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> On 23 August, he took over as the [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]] from Rear Admiral [[C. R. Praveen Nair]].<ref name="FOCWF">{{cite web |title=Western Naval Command |url=https://x.com/IN_WNC/status/1827003763804016720 |website=x.com |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> He led the Western Fleet during [[Operation Sindoor]] in the aftermath of the [[2025 Pahalgam attack]]. Within 96 hours of the attack, Western Fleet ships deployed at sea and carried out firings of [[surface-to-surface]] & [[surface-to-air missiles]] and torpedoes on the western coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Sindoor is India’s frontal assault against terrorism; If Pakistan resorts to anything evil, it will face Indian Navy’s firepower: Raksha Mantri onboard INS Vikrant |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2132653#:~:text=Describing%20the%20Indian%20Navy's%20role,defensive%20posture%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said. |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref> The carrier battle group was led by [[INS Vikrant (2013)|INS ''Vikrant'']] and had around 36 warships and submarines operating together. The Pakistani naval fleet was reported to have remained confined within [[Karachi Harbour]], unable to respond effectively due to the fleet's overwhelming presence. The heightened risk even led to international commercial vessels re-routing to avoid the tense waters around Karachi.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Shivani |title=INS Vikrant-led 36-ship armada was in position to hit Karachi: Sources |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ins-vikrant-brahmos-equipped-warships-submarines-blockaded-paks-karachi-port-during-op-sindoor-sources-2724482-2025-05-14 |website=India Today |access-date=27 September 2025 |language=en |date=14 May 2025}}</ref> For his command of the fleet, he was awarded the [[Yudh Seva Medal]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156515 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> He relinquished command of the Western Fleet and handed over to Rear Admiral Vivek Dahiya on 27 September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Vivek Dahiya assumes command of Navy's Western Fleet |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/rear-admiral-vivek-dahiya-assumes-command-of-navys-western-fleet-3746225 |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=29 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 October, he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral and appointed Chief of Staff of the [[Western Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Western Naval Command |url=https://x.com/IN_WNC/status/1974053473218936951 |website=x.com |access-date=3 October 2025}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
Gokhale was awarded the [[Nao Sena Medal]] (Devotion to duty) in 2021 and the [[Yudh Seva Medal]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medal Winners |url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/medal-winners?page=3 |website=indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Yudh_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nao_Sena_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
||{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samanya_Seva_medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Vijay_star.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Operation_Parakram_medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Sainya_Seva_Medal_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=75yearmedal.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_30_Years_Long_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[Yudh Seva Medal]]
|[[Nao Sena Medal]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|[[Operation Vijay Star]]
|-
|[[Operation Vijay Medal]]
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|-
|[[50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]
* [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before = K. A. Bopanna}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commanding Officer]] [[INS Circars]]|years=2020 – 2022}}
{{s-aft|after = A. S. Dadwal}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Rajesh Dhankhar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|Flag Officer Sea Training]]|years=2022 – 2023}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Susheel Menon]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[C. R. Praveen Nair]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]|years=2024 – 2025}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vivek Dahiya (admiral)|Vivek Dahiya]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Ajay Kochhar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Chief of Staff [[Western Naval Command]]|years=2025 - Present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gokhale, Rahul Vilas}}
[[Category:Indian Navy vice admirals]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Sea Training]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Naval War College, Goa alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Rahul Vilas Gokhale - Revision history

ReinaSligo4: Done