Sunil Lanba

Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba AVSM is the current Vice Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, having assumed office on 2 June 2014. He has previously served as the Commandant of the National Defence College, New Delhi between November 2012 and June 2014. He is to succeed Robin K. Dhowan as the Chief of Naval Staff when the latter retires in May 2016.

Personal life and Education
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.

Military career
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 Himgiri (F34), INS Ranvijay (D55) and INS Mumbai (D62).

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. He has also served as the Fleet Operations officer of the Western Fleet based in Mumbai.

He is to succeed Robin K. Dhowan as the Chief of Naval Staff when the latter retires in May 2016.