8 Facts About Next Indian Navy Chief: Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba

Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba PVSM , AVSM is the former Vice Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, held the office from 2 June 2014 to 30 Mar 2015. He is the current FOC-in-C of Western Command of Indian Navy. He has previously served FOC-in-C of Southern Command and as the Commandant of the National Defence College , New Delhi between November 2012 and June 2014. He is tipped to succeed Robin K. Dhowan as the Chief of Naval Staff when the latter retires in May 2016.

1. Sunil Lanba had his school education from the Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan . He is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy (NDA), Defense Services Staff College, Royal College of Defense Studies and also has a PG in Defense and Management studies. He is married to Reena Lanbha and they have 2 daughters and a son.
2. He is married to Reena Lanbha and they have 2 daughters and a son.
3. National Defense College Commandant Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba gives U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno a tour of the college’s archive display. Lanba was commissioned into the Indian Navy as an officer in January 1978 as a Navigation and Direction specialist. He served as a navigation officer on board INS Sindhudurg (K72) and INS Dunagiri (F36) before serving as the Commanding Officer (CO) of various ships: INS Kakinada, INS.
4. He served as a navigation officer on board INS Sindhudurg (K72) and INS Dunagiri (F36) before serving as the Commanding Officer (CO) of various ships: INS Kakinada, INS Himgiri (F34) , INS Ranvijay (D55) and INS Mumbai (D62) .
5. He later served as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command and then as the Flag Officer of the Sea Training and of the Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area. After attaining the rank of Vice Admiral, he served as the Chief of Staff Eastern Naval Command and later as the commandant of the National Defense College until his appointment as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
6. He has also served as the Fleet Operations officer of the Western Fleet based in Mumbai. He also served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command before assuming his charge as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command on 31 January 2016. He succeeded Vice Admiral SPS Cheema as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command.
7. He succeeded Vice Admiral SPS Cheema as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command.
8. He will take over from Admiral Dhowan on the afternoon of May 31 and will be in office till May 31, 2019.