M. A. Hampiholi

Hampiholi was born in Dharwad in Karnataka. He attended the Sainik School, Bijapur.[1] He graduated from the Naval Academy, Kochi in 1985.

Then Rear Adm Hampiholi as FOCWF during Ex Varuna 2018

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, New Delhi.[2]

In the early years of his career, he served as an ASW specialist aboard the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Himgiri (F34), the Abhay-class corvette INS Agray (P36) and the Godavari-class frigate INS Ganga (F22).

Hampiholi has commanded the Veer-class missile vessel INS Nashak (K83), the Magar-class amphibious warfare vessel INS Magar (L20) and the Talwar-class guided missile frigate INS Talwar (F40). He has also served as the Second-in-command of the Khukri-class corvette INS Khukri (P49).[3]

He also commanded the National Coast Guard of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005. From June 2007 to January 2008, Hampiholi served as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy.[4] He later commanded the 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 Advisor to the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command. He also served as the Principal Director Staff Requirements at Naval HQ.[5]

On promotion to Flag Rank, Hampiholi took over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Human Resource Development). He then assumed the office of 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.[6] For his command of the Western Fleet, Hampiholi was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2019.[7] Hampiholi took over as the Director General Naval Operations on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral on 27 March 2019.[8] On 27 July 2020, he assumed office as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy.[9]

• Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
• Western Fleet
• Commandant of Indian Naval Academy