VICE Admiral Girish Luthra, will assume charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command from Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba on May 30 2016. Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba will thereafter proceed to New Delhi to take over charge as Chief of Naval Staff from Admiral RK Dhowan on May 31. Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, is currently Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.
Vice Admiral Girish Luthra was commissioned in the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on July 1, 1979 and is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune, the Defence Services Staff College Wellington, and Naval Command Naval War College, USA. A Navigation and Direction Specialist, the officer served in many operational and staff billets afloat as well as ashore in a career spanning more than three decades. His significant afloat tenures include the command of Indian Naval Ships Khukri (guided missile corvette), Talwar (guided missile frigate) and Viraat(aircraft carrier), besides being the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet during 2011-12.
The Admiral has rich professional experience in fields of foreign cooperation, aquisitions, procurement, operations, plans, training and Tri-Services. His important staff appointments include Deputy Naval Attaché to High Commission of India at London, Principal Director Naval Plans, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans), Director General of Naval Operations and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).
An eminent scholar in military affairs, the admiral has written and published a number of professional papers and articles, in various journals in India and abroad. He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2012 and Vishisht Seva Medal in 2008.