Hello, Warriors! Senior naval officer Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is likely to take over as Chief of Naval Staff in four months, has now taken over as chief of the Mumbai based Western Naval Command, considered the “premier operational command” of the Indian Navy.
Prior to this appointment, Mr. Lanba was Commander-in-chief of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi and head of the premier operational Command of the Indian Navy.
Download eBooks:
Here is all about Sunil Lanba, to be appointed as the next chief of Naval Staff:
- Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an officer in January 1978 as a Navigation and Direction specialist.
- He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA) and Defence Services Staff College. He is also an alumnus of the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, where he also served on the faculty.
- He has very rich staff and operational experience over a career spanning more than three decades with the Indian Navy.
- He has served as Navigating Officer of INS Sindhudurg (Corvette) and INS Dunagiri (Frigate).
- During his illustrious service he commanded four frontline warships namely, INS Kakinada (Minesweeper), INS Himgiri (Frigate), INS Ranvijay and INS Mumbai (Destroyers).
- He has also held important staff assignments such as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and Chief of Staff, Southern and Eastern Naval Commands.
- He has also been the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area, Flag Officer Sea Training, Commandant at National Defence College and Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
- He was Commander-in-chief of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi, prior to being appointed to head the premier operational Command of the Indian Navy.
- Vice Admiral Lanba is a recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Athi Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of an exceptionally high order.
- Sunil Lanba’s wife, Mrs Reena Lanba who will now preside over the Navy Wives Welfare Association (Western Region) is a qualified teacher and a home maker.
Current naval chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan is due to retire on May 31, and once that happens, Vice Admiral Lanba will be the senior-most serving naval officer.
