{{short description|Indian Navy admiral}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral | name = Vennam Srinivas | honorific_suffix = PVSM, AVSM, NM | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Vice Admiral V Srinivas FOCinC.jpg | image_size = 240px | alt = | caption = | office = Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command | term_start = 1 January 2024 | term_end = 31 October 2025 | predecessor = M. A. Hampiholi | successor = Sameer Saxena | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|df=yes|yyyy|mm|dd}} --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | birth_place = | death_place = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{navy|India}} | service_years = 01 July 1987 – 31 October 2025 | rank = 20px 20px Vice Admiral | servicenumber = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.--> | unit = | commands = {{plainlist | * Southern Naval Command * Maharashtra Naval Area * Flag Officer Submarines * INS Chakra * INS Satavahana * {{ship|INS|Ranvir|D54}} * INS Shankul (S47) }} | battles = | battles_label = | military_blank2 = Awards | military_data2 = {{plainlist| * 20px Ati Vishisht Seva Medal * 20px Nao Sena Medal }} | memorials = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = | alma_mater = Indian Naval Academy }}

Vice Admiral '''Vennam Srinivas''', PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-31 |title=New Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Southern Naval Command |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/new-flag-officer-commanding-in-chief-for-southern-naval-command/article67692877.ece |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He previously served as the Inspector General Nuclear Safety, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA) and as the Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM).

==Naval career== Srinivas was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He specialized in anti-submarine warfare and joined the submarine arm where he has served for over 30 years. He served onboard the Shishumar-class submarines {{ship|INS|Shalki|S46}}, {{ship|INS|Shishumar|S44}}, and {{ship|INS|Shankul|S47}} during Operation Vijay. In his staff appointments, he served as Commander (Submarines) at Commodore Commanding Submarines (West) at Mumbai and as the Chief Staff Officer to Flag Officer Submarines.<ref name="PIB bio" />

He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College, Goa where he was awarded the Commander-in-Chief's Silver Medal. He also attended the Senior Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.<ref name="PIB bio" />

He has commanded two conventional submarines including the Shishumar-class diesel-electric attack submarine {{ship|INS|Shankul|S47}} and the Rajput-class Guided-missile destroyer {{ship|INS|Ranvir|D54}}. He then commanded the nuclear-powered attack submarine Chakra.<ref name="FOSM">{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Vennam Srinivas Takes Over as Flag Officer Submarines |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151903 |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref>

As a Commodore, Srinivas served as Principal Director Ship Systems and Development (PDSSD) at naval headquarters. He then commanded the Navy’s submarine training establishment INS Satavahana at Visakhapatnam.<ref name="PIB bio" />

===Flag rank=== On 24 October 2016, Srinivas was appointed Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM), taking over from Rear Admiral Sanjay Mahindru.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral Vennam Srinivas is new Flag Officer Submarines |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/rear-admiral-vennam-srinivas-is-new-flag-officer-submarines/articleshow/55028131.cms?from=mdr |website=The Economic Times |access-date=3 April 2023 |date=11 July 2018}}</ref> He had a long tenure as FOSM, till February 2020. On 8 February, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area and took over from Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar.<ref name="IN website - FOMA">{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral V Srinivas Assumes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-v-srinivas-assumes-charge-flag-officer-commanding-maharashtra-naval-area |website=indiannavy.nic.in |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> After a year-long tenure, he moved to NHQ to head the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. He subsequently was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and was appointed Inspector General Nuclear Safety.<ref name="IGNS">{{cite web |title=Major Reshuffle In Navy, V Adm Hari Kumar To Head Western Command |url=https://www.businessworld.in/article/Major-reshuffle-in-Navy-V-Adm-Hari-Kumar-to-head-Western-Command/24-02-2021-381356/ |website=businessworld.in |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>

He was appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command on 5 December 2023, and assumed the office on 31 December 2023 succeeding Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi.<ref name="PTN-051223">{{cite news|url=https://www.ptcnews.tv/nation/major-reshuffle-in-navy-vice-admiral-dinesh-tripathi-to-be-new-vice-chief-735491|title=Major reshuffle in Navy: Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to be new Vice Chief|work=PTC News|date=2023-12-05}}</ref><ref name="PIB bio">{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL V SRINIVAS TAKES OVER AS THE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF, SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND, KOCHI |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1991948 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Srinivas was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in 2009, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025.

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |COLSPAN=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Indian Navy Submariner Badge.png|width=225|alt=centre}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht 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}} |- |colspan=4|{{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}} |- |colspan=4|{{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;" |COLSPAN=4|Submariner's (Dolphin) Badge |- |Param Vishisht Seva Medal |Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |Nau Sena Medal |Samanya Seva Medal |- |Operation Vijay Star |Operation Vijay Medal |Operation Parakram Medal |Sainya Seva Medal |- |75th Independence Anniversary Medal |colspan=2|50th Independence Anniversary Medal |30 Years Long Service Medal |- |colspan=2|20 Years Long Service Medal |colspan=2|9 Years Long Service Medal |}

==See also== * Flag Officer Submarines

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef | before = Sanjay Mahindru}} {{s-ttl | title = Flag Officer Submarines | years = 2016 - 2020}} {{s-aft | after = A. Y. Sardesai}} {{s-bef | before = Rajesh Pendharkar}} {{s-ttl | title= Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area | years=2020 – 2021}} {{s-aft | after=Atul Anand}} {{s-bef | before = S. V. Bhokare}} {{s-ttl | title= Inspector General Nuclear Safety| years=2021 – 2023}} {{s-aft|after=A. Y. Sardesai}} {{s-bef|before=M. A. Hampiholi}} {{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command | years = 1 January 2024 - 31 October 2025}} {{s-aft|after=Sameer Saxena}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Srinivas, Vennam}} Category:Living people Category:Indian Navy vice admirals Category:Flag Officers Submarines (India) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Recipients of the Nau Sena Medal Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Naval War College, Goa alumni Category:Flag Officers Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area Category:Inspectors General Nuclear Safety