Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff on Farewell Visit to Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff on Farewell Visit to Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) accompanied by Mrs Reena Lanba, President, Naval Wives Welfare Association arrived Visakhapatnam on a three-day farewell visit to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 15 May 2019. On arrival, Admiral Lanba was received by Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief at INS Dega. During his stay at Visakhapatnam, the CNS will interact with Officers, Sailors and Defence Civilians of the ENC, as also embark the Eastern Fleet at sea.
Admiral Sunil Lanba retires from the Navy on 31 May 2019 after over four decades of distinguished service. His over four decades of experience include tenures at sea, ashore at various Headquarters, operational and training establishments as well as tri-services institutions. His sea tenures include command of INS Kakinada, a 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.
On elevation to the Flag rank, Admiral Lanba has held several significant assignments in the navy including as the Chief of Staff, SNC, Flag Officer Sea Training and as Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area. On promotion to Vice Admiral, he has been the Chief of Staff, ENC, Commandant, National Defence College and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. Prior to taking over as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff on 31 May 2016, Admiral Lanba had been the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern and Western Naval Commands. He took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on 01 January 17.
During the last three years as CNS, Admiral Lanba set the tone for several transitions in the operational, training and organisational philosophy of the Indian Navy. The Mission Based Deployments introduced in June 2017 transformed the operational philosophy to deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points. These ships are deployed always ready to meet any eventuality across the spectrum of operations ranging from acts of maritime terrorism and piracy to HADR. The Mission Based Deployments enabled Indian Navy units to be the first responder in crisis situation and as Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region. Admiral Lanba has also steered implementation of the New Transition Cycle which facilitated improvement of the overall readiness of ships and submarines in undertaking operational taskings and Mission Based Deployments.
