A first generation Naval Officer, Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar is an alumnus of the 66th Course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, having graduated in May 1984.

At sea, the officer has served on 14 different ships in various capacities, including appointments as Navigating Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. As the Navigator he was posted on IN Ships Cannanore (as Commissioning Crew in erstwhile USSR), Betwa, Veer, Suvarna and Ranvir. He was the Executive Officer of the Kashin Class destroyer, INS Rana. The officer has Commanded IN TRV A 71 (a Torpedo Recovery Vessel), INS Prahar (an indigenously built Missile Boat), INS Kulish (an indigenously built Missile Corvette) and INS Jalashwa (ex-USS Trenten). His shore appointments include Instructor at Navigation and Direction School, Joint Director Naval Plans (JDNP), Director Naval Plans (DNP) at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), Naval Attache in Washington DC and Principal Director International Fleet Review in New Delhi, NOIC (TN&P) and Commanding Officer INS Adyar at Chennai.

Rear Admiral Bhatnagar attended the Long Navigation and Direction Course in Kochi in 1990/91, is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja. He was commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2002 and awarded NauSena Medal for Devotion to Duty in 2010.

A keen golfer and yachtsman, the Admiral is married and has two sons, 20 and 16 years old.