Vice Admiral S.V. Bhokare, YSM, NM took charge as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, on October 20, 2016. Vice Admiral Bhokare is a specialist in navigation and direction and a graduate of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu. He attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, and holds a masters degree in defence and strategic studies from Australian Defence College, Canberra.

The officer belongs to the elite submarine arm of the Indian Navy. In his illustrious career spanning 32 years, he commanded three front line submarines, INS Sindhughosh, Sindhudhvaj and Sindhushastra, as well as guided missile frigate INS Beas and submarine base INS Vajrabahu. He has also held various prestigious staff and operational appointments including Command of Submarine Squadron as Commodore Commanding Submarines (West) and Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at Eastern Naval Command. On being promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, the officer was appointed as Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) from September 2012 for three years and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF) from 2015 onwards.

He is the first officer from the submarine arm to take over the reins as Commandant of INA.