Admiral Sunil Lanba assumes command of Indian Navy

A Navigation and Direction specialist, Admiral Lanba served as the Navigation and Operations Officer on board numerous ships in both the Eastern and Western Fleets.

His nearly four decades of experience includes tenure at sea, ashore at various Headquarters, Operational and Training establishments as well as tri-services institutions.

His sea tenure includes command of INS Kakinada, a specialised Mine Counter Measure Vessel, INS Himgiri, the indigenous Leander class Frigate, INS Ranvijay, a Kashin class destroyer and INS Mumbai, the indigenous Delhi class destroyer.

He has also been the Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat and the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.

He was responsible for transformation in training methodology for the future Indian Navy as the Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.

Later, he took over command of the vital Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area and implemented significant coastal security initiatives along with multiagency co-ordination mechanisms that have since ensured safe seas and coastal areas.

On promotion as Vice Admiral, he has been the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, and Commandant of the National Defence College.

In his capacity as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, the Admiral streamlined the frame work for transformation of Indian Navy’s combat capabilities and infrastructure development as well as tri-services initiatives.

Prior to taking over as the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Lanba has been the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern and Western Naval Commands.