Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla has assumed charge as Chief of Personnel, Indian Navy, on May 28, 2016. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Vice Admiral Chawla was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 1, 1982.

A navigation and direction specialist, Vice Admiral Chawla commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, the Vinash a missile boat, the missile corvette Kora, stealth frigate Tabar and the aircraft carrier Viraat. His ashore and staff appointments include stints at the prestigious National Defence Academy, Centre for Leadership and Behavioural Studies Naval Attaché Jakarta, Senior Instructor (Navy) and HOTT (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College and Naval Assistant to CNS.

As a Flag Officer, Vice Admiral Chawla has held critical staff appointments as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation & Intelligence) and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at Naval Headquarters. He commanded the Western Fleet from August 16, 2013, to October 1, 2014. On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral he took over as the Director General Naval Operations on December 31, 2014. He was awarded the Nausena Medal in 2003 while in command of INS Kora during Operation Parakram, Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2013, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on January 26, 2015.