Naveed Ashraf is an admiral in the Pakistan Navy who is serving as the 23rd chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) since October 2023.
Early life and education Ashraf was born in Sialkot, Pakistan. The Admiral is an alumnus of the Pakistan Naval War College, the National Defence University and the Naval War College, US. He has also obtained his military education from the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.
Career Ashraf was commissioned in the Pakistan Navy with his first appointment in 1989 at the operations branch. His command assignments include 18th and 25th Destroyer Squadrons, commandant Pakistan Naval Academy, in addition to serving as the Commanding Officer of PNS ALAMGIR, PNS SHAHJAHAN, PNS TIPPU SULTAN, PNS MUJAHID and PNS LARKANA. At staff, he was appointed Fleet Operations Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet, Chief of Staff for Combined Task Force 151 at the United States Naval Forces Central Command, Chief Instructor and Deputy President of the National Defence University, and Captain Training at the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Admin), Director General C4I, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Training & Personnel), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Chief of Staff, and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
Awards and decorations In acknowledgment of his meritorious services, Admiral Naveed Ashraf has been honored with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military), Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-e-Basalat. He was later awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) following 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.
Pakistan Navy Operations Branch BadgeCommand at Sea insigniaNishan-e-Imtiaz
(Civilian)
(Order of Excellence)Nishan-e-Imtiaz
(Military)
(Order of Excellence)Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
(Crescent of Excellence)Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
(Star of Excellence)Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military)
(Medal of Excellence)Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct)Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal)
1998Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal)
2002Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction)
(2018)10 Years Service Medal20 Years Service Medal30 Years Service Medal35 Years Service MedalJamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)
1988Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day
Golden Jubilee Medal)
1990Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day
Golden Jubilee Medal)
1997Pakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal)
Dates of Rank Insignia Rank Date Admiral (CNS) October 2023Vice Admiral September 2021Rear Admiral November 2017Commodore July 2014CaptainOctober 2010CommanderJuly 2005Lieutenant commanderMay 2000Lieutenant October 1993Sub Lieutenant June 1990MidshipmanJune 1989
References