Kochi: Admiral Sunil Lanba PVSM AVSM ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) arrived in Kochi today, 05th May on a three day visit. He was accompanied by Mrs Reena Lanba, President Naval Wives Welfare Association. The CNS and Mrs Lanba were received at the Naval Air Station, INS Garuda by Vice Admiral Anil Chawla AVSM NM VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and Mrs Sapana Chawla, President Naval Wives Welfare Association (Southern Region). This will be Admiral Lanba’s farewell visit to SNC, as he would be demitting office and retiring on 31st May after a long and illustrious career of 41 years.
During his visit, the CNS will chair the Governing Council Meeting and Annual General Body Meeting of the Navy Foundation, an association of naval veteran officers. A number of other activities, both professional and welfare, would be undertaken by the CNS during his visit.
The Admiral was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 January 1978. He is a Navigation and Direction specialist and has served on board numerous ships on both Western and Eastern seaboards. His sea tenures include command of INS Kakinada, a minesweeper, INS Himgiri, a Leander class frigate, INS Ranvijay, a Kashin class destroyer and INS Mumbai, the third indigenous Delhi class destroyer. He has also been the Executive Officer (second in command) of the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat as well as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.
The Admiral is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and Royal College of Defence Studies, London.
As a Flag officer, Admiral Lanba has held the appointments of Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Commandant of the National Defence College, Secunderabad, Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. He has had an especially long association with the Southern Naval Command, where he has held the appointments of Chief of Staff and Flag Officer Sea Training, as also Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command from 2015 to 2016. Admiral Sunil Lanba assumed Command of the Indian Navy, as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff on 31 May 16.
The Admiral is a recipient of Param Vishist Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal for meritorious service, and is also the Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the President of India. He took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on 01 January 17.
The CNS and Mrs Lanba will depart for New Delhi on 07th May.
