KOCHI: Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba has been appointed the Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.
He succeeds Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, who was transferred as Commanding-in- Chief of the Western Naval Command.
Presently, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Lanba was commissioned in the executive branch of the Indian Navy in January 1978.
The Admiral has previously served in Kochi as the Chief of Staff and also as the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST).
Sunil Lanba is a specialist in navigation and direction and is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune, the Defence Services Staff College Wellington, College of Defence Management, Hyderabad and the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), London.
The officer has served in many operational and staff billets afloat and ashore during his career spanning more than three decades.
His significant responsibilities afloat include the Executive Officer of INS Viraat, the Aircraft Carrier, the Commanding Officer of INS Ranvijay and INS Mumbai, besides being the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.
His important staff appointments include Chief of Staff of Eastern Naval Command and Commandant of the prestigious National Defence College of India.
He has also served as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area.
Sunil Lanba has been awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal for his distinguished service of an exceptionally high order.