Victorxsi at 18:21, 14 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian admiral}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| name = M A Hampiholi
| honorific_suffix = [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]]
| native_name =
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| image = File:FOC-in-C (S).jpg
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| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{navy|India}}
| serviceyears = 1 July 1985 - 31 December 2023
| rank = [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-8.svg|20px]] [[File:13-Indian_Navy-VADM.svg|20px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| servicenumber = 02859-Y <ref>https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893742&reg=3&lang=2</ref>
| unit =
| commands = [[Southern Naval Command]] [[Indian Naval Academy]] [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] INS Mandovi [[Military of Mauritius|Mauritius Coast Guard]] {{ship|INS|Talwar|F40}} {{ship|INS|Magar|L20}} {{ship|INS|Nashak|K83}}
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| awards = [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Nao_Sena_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Nao Sena Medal]]
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[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] '''Makarand Aravind Hampiholi''', [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]] is a former [[flag officer]] in the [[Indian Navy]]. He last served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, [[Southern Naval Command]].<ref name="snc-chief">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/new-chief-for-southern-naval-command/article37759027.ece|title=New chief for Southern Naval Command|newspaper=The Hindu |date=29 November 2021 |publisher=The Hindo|access-date=2021-11-29}}</ref> Previously, he served as the [[Commandant of Indian Naval Academy]] and served as the [[Director General Naval Operations]] (DGNO) at Naval headquarters.

==Early life==
Hampiholi was born in [[Dharwad]] in [[Karnataka]]. He attended the [[Sainik School, Bijapur]].<ref>{{cite web |title=DHARWAD'S REAR ADMIRAL HAMPIHOLI GETS MEDAL FROM PRESIDENT |url=https://www.hubballitimes.com/dharwads-rear-admiral-hampiholi-gets-medal-from-president/ |website=Hubballi Times}}</ref> He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 1983 with the President's gold medal.

== Naval career ==
Hampiholi was commissioned into the [[Indian Navy]] in the Executive branch on 1 July 1985. He is a specialist in [[Anti-submarine warfare]]. He has completed the staff course at the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (DSSC) in [[Wellington Cantonment]] and the higher command course at the [[Naval War College, Goa]]. He has also attended the [[National Defence College, India|National Defence College]], [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi, NM Takes Over as Western Fleet Commander {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-ma-hampiholi-nm-takes-over-western-fleet-commander |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>

In the early years of his career, he served as an ASW specialist aboard the [[Nilgiri-class frigate (1972)|Nilgiri-class]] [[frigate]] {{ship|INS|Himgiri|F34}}, the [[Abhay-class corvette]] {{ship|INS|Agray|1991|6}} and the [[Godavari-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Ganga|F22}}.

Hampiholi has commanded the [[Veer-class corvette|Veer-class]] missile vessel {{ship|INS|Nashak|K83}}, the [[Magar-class amphibious warfare vessel]] {{ship|INS|Magar|L20}} and the [[Talwar-class frigate|Talwar-class]] [[guided missile frigate]] {{ship|INS|Talwar|F40}}. He has also served as the [[Second-in-command]] of the [[Khukri-class corvette]] {{ship|INS|Khukri|P49}}. During his command of INS Talwar, he was conferred the Nausena Medal (Devotion to Duty).<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, AVSM, NM Assumes Charge as Director General Naval Operations {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-ma-hampiholi-avsm-nm-assumes-charge-director-general-naval-operations |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>

He also commanded the [[Military of Mauritius|National Coast Guard of Mauritius]] from 2003 to 2005. From June 2007 to June 2009, Hampiholi served as the Commandant of the Naval Academy and the Commanding Officer of Naval base INS Mandovi.

He has tenanted the instructional appointments of Instructor at the Anti Submarine Warfare School, [[Kochi]] and that of Senior Directing Staff at the [[Naval War College, Goa]]. Hampiholi, in his staff appointments, has served as the Joint Director of Personnel at Naval HQ, Naval Assistant to the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Eastern Naval Command]]. He also served as the Principal Director Staff Requirements at Naval HQ.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, AVSM, NM assumes charge as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1569593 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>

===Flag rank===
On promotion to Flag Rank, Hampiholi took over as the Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development) (ACOP HRD). The ACOP is an assistant principal staff officer appointment at naval headquarters. He then assumed the office of [[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|Flag Officer Sea Training]] (FOST) at [[Kochi]]. As FOST, his charter included the conduct of the operational sea training of all ships of the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Coast Guard]].

On 22 January 2018, Hampiholi assumed the office of the [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi, NM Takes Over as Western Fleet Commander {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/rear-admiral-ma-hampiholi-nm-takes-over-western-fleet-commander |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> For his command of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]], Hampiholi was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] on 26 January 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=#DefenceInvestitureCeremony #PresidentKovind @rashtrapatibhvn presenting awards to VAdm P Ajit Kumar FOCinC (West), VAdm S Anand COL, RAdm MA Hampiholi FOCWF, RAdm DK Tripathi FOCEF. and 1/2pic.twitter.com/gLBGPgwCoN |url=https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1106152364170506242 |website=@indiannavy |language=en |date=14 March 2019}}</ref> Hampiholi took over as the [[Director General Naval Operations]] on promotion to the rank of [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] on 27 March 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, AVSM, NM Assumes Charge as Director General Naval Operations |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-ma-hampiholi-avsm-nm-assumes-charge-director-general-naval-operations |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> On 27 July 2020, he assumed office as the [[Commandant of Indian Naval Academy]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff Reporter |title=New Commandant for Naval Academy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/new-commandant-for-naval-academy/article32207749.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

After an eighteen-month long tenure, Hampiholi was appointed [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]] and took over on 30 November 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=VICE ADMIRAL MA HAMPIHOLI ASSUMES COMMAND OF SNC |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1776667 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref> He superannuated on 31 December 2023 and was succeeded by [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Vennam Srinivas]].<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="HT-051223">{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/highlyrated-vice-admiral-dinesh-tripathi-to-become-indias-new-vice-chief-of-navy-staff-101701746008487.html|title=Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to become India's new Vice Chief of Navy Staff|first=Kunal|last=Gaurav|date=2023-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{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==
Hampiholi was awarded the [[Nao Sena Medal]] in 2011, the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2019 and the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893744|title=DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND GALLANTRY AWARDS TO INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL ON REPUBLIC DAY - 2023|publisher=PIB|date=2023-01-25}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{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 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=IND_Videsh_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;"
|-
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Nau Sena Medal]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|-
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Videsh Seva Medal]]
|[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence 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]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla handing over the charge of SNC to Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi.jpg|Vice Admiral [[Anil Kumar Chawla]] handing over the charge of [[Southern Naval Command]] to Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi.
File:Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commander Western Fleet, at Varuna 2018.jpg|[[Rear admiral (India)|RAdm]] Hampiholi as [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet|FOCWF]] during Ex Varuna 2018
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]
* [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]]
* [[Commandant of Indian Naval Academy]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=N N Rao}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commandant of Indian Naval Academy]]|years=2007 - 2008}}
{{s-aft|after= M P Muralidharan}}
{{s-bef|before=S. K. Grewal}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Sea Training (India)|Flag Officer Sea Training]]|years=2016 - 2018}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after= [[Sanjay Jasjit Singh]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[R. B. Pandit]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]|years=2018 - 2019}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Director General Naval Operations]]|years=2019 - 2020}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dinesh K Tripathi]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dinesh K Tripathi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commandant of Indian Naval Academy|Commandant]], [[Indian Naval Academy]]|years=2020 - 29 November 2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Puneet Kumar Bahl]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Anil Kumar Chawla]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, [[Southern Naval Command]] | years = 30 November 2021 - 31 December 2023}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vennam Srinivas]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hampiholi, M A}}
[[Category:Indian Navy vice admirals]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Sea Training]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Commandants of the Indian Naval Academy]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Nau Sena Medal]]
[[Category:Naval War College, Goa alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Naval War College, Goa]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Directors General Naval Operations]]

M. A. Hampiholi - Revision history

Victorxsi at 18:21, 14 March 2026