Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba is next Navy Chief

New Delhi, May 5: On expected lines, the government on Thursday,May 5 announced Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba as the next Indian Navy Chief.

He would succeed Admiral R K Dhowan, who is set to retire on May 31. Currently Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba is the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command (FOC-in-C, West), position he assumed on January 31, 2016.

Prior to moving to WNC, he was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi.

Vice Admiral Lanba completed his schooling from Mayo College in Ajmer. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy in January 1978.

After specializing in Navigation and Direction in 1983 the officer served as Navigating Officer of INS Sindhudurg (Corvette) and INS Dunagiri (Frigate). He has commanded Indian Naval Ships Kakinada (minesweeper), Himgiri (frigate), Ranvijay (guided missile destroyer) and Mumbai (guided missile destroyer).

He has completed Staff Course from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu, Long Defence Management Course from College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) Course from RCDS, London.

He has also been faculty at the College of Defence Management and has headed the prestigious National Defence College of India as Commandant.

He has held various important staff appointments including Fleet Operations Officer of Western Fleet, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Naval Command, Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Eastern NavalCommand and Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

He has been awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal.

OneIndia News