Vice Admiral Girish Luthra took over charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command from Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba today.
The Flag Officer, a native of Palwal in Haryana, who was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff prior to taking over as the FOC-in-C (South), had arrived in Kochi on 29 Jan 16.
Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba will now assume the charge of the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command at Mumbai on 31 Jan 16 on the retirement of the present incumbent, Vice Admiral SPS Cheema who had also been the FOC-in-C (South) earlier.
The Southern Naval Command is one of the three main formations of the Indian Navy and has its Head Quaters in Kochi, Kerala at INS Venduruthy.
It consists of Flag Officer Sea Training, a training squadron, training establishments and bases, and land forces and survey ships. It has a naval air station, and a ship repair yard.
Vice Admiral Luthra laid wreath at the War Memorial before assuming command. The War Memorial is a tribute to the thousands of martyrs who had fought for the country.
In his farewell address Vice Admiral Lanba reminded everyone particularly the personnel under training that it was incumbent upon them to utilise the top class training being accorded to them towards becoming excellent professionals in the service of the country. The Parade was witnessed by many senior officers, men and families of Southern Naval Command.