Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM, has assumed charge as the 40th Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy on 1 November 2025. An alumnus of the 70th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he was commissioned as an Electrical Officer into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. The Flag Officer holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Chennai, a Postgraduate qualification in Higher Defence Management from Osmania University, an MPhil from Madras University, and is an alumnus of the National Defence College. During an illustrious career spanning over 38 years, Vice Admiral Sivakumar has held several key positions across the Naval Headquarters, Headquarters ATVP, Naval Dockyards, and Command Headquarters. He has served aboard frontline warships — INS Ranjit, INS Kirpan, and INS Akshay — and has commanded the Navy’s premier Electrical Training establishment, INS Valsura. The Admiral holds the unique distinction of having led both key Electrical Directorates at Naval Headquarters — Weapons Equipment and Electrical Engineering — and has served in Naval Dockyards on both the east and west coasts. His wide-ranging experience spans technical administration, project execution, and advanced naval technologies. As a Flag Officer, he has served as Additional Director General (Technical), Project Seabird, Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at Headquarters Western Naval Command, and Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Following his tenure as Assistant Chief of Materiel (Information Technology & Systems) at Naval Headquarters, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and subsequently appointed as Programme Director, HQ ATVP, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, and Director General Naval Projects (Visakhapatnam). In recognition of his exceptional service, Vice Admiral Sivakumar has been conferred with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). He succeeds Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, AVSM, VSM, who retires after more than 39 years of distinguished service. Vice Admiral Deshmukh is widely regarded as a visionary leader and a consummate professional, credited with enhancing the Navy’s technical readiness and ensuring that Indian Naval platforms remain combat-ready and capable of full-spectrum operations. The sustained operational excellence of naval assets during Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to his foresight, planning, and leadership. With his appointment, Vice Admiral B Sivakumar is set to lead the Indian Navy’s materiel, maintenance, and technical modernisation efforts, strengthening India’s maritime readiness and self-reliance in defence production.