Article Posted on : - May 31, 2016

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba (left) being handed over the baton by the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R K Dhowan, in New Delhi on May 31, 2016. A PIB Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Admiral Sunil Lanba on Tuesday took over as the new Chief of Naval Staff and vowed to ensure that the maritime domain of the country is safe and secure.

58-year-old Lanba, a specialist in Navigation and Direction, will have the full three-year tenure as the Indian Navy Chief.

He succeeded Admiral R K Dhowan who retired Tuesday.

"It is indeed an honour and a privilege for me to take over the command of the Indian Navy, one of the finest in the world," he said, adding that over the years, the Navy has turned into a modern and combat-ready force capable of operating in all three dimensions.

"The men and women who man the Navy are professionally trained, committed and patriotic and are committed to ensuring that our national interests are safeguarded anywhere, anytime and everywhere," he said.

An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Lanba is the 21st Indian to be the Navy Chief. The first two were British.

Coming in with rich operational and staff experience in a career spanning more than three decades, Lanba has served as Navigating Officer of corvette INS Sindhudurg and frigate INS Dunagiri.

He has commanded four frontline warships -- INS Kakinada (minesweeper), INS Himgiri (frigate) and INS Ranvijay and INS Mumbai, both destroyers.

He is also an alumnus of the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, where he has served as a faculty.

Lanba has also held key staff assignments such as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and the Chief of Staff, Southern and Eastern Naval Commands.

He was also the Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area and Commandant, National Defence College.

He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi, prior to being appointed to head the Western Naval Command. He took over as the Vice Chief on June 2, 2014.

Admiral Lanba is a recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Athi Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service.