Succeeding Admiral Sunil Lanba, new helmsman Vice Admiral Karambir Singh to sail the Indian Navy

New Delhi, March 23: Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was appointed as the next Chief of Naval Staff, succeeding Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires on May 30, the Defence Ministry said Saturday.

The government made the selection following a merit-based approach and did not go with the tradition of appointing the senior-most eligible officer to the post, official sources said.

Singh, who a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai, hails from Jalandhar and a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh’s Sea Command includes Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi. He also served as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet and was Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujrat area.

Before taking over as FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command in Oct 2017, he was DG Project Seabird, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. A graduate of the DSSC Wellington, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been decorated with PVSM and AVSM.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh FOC in C East would be the First helicopter pilot of Indian Navy to become Chief of Naval Staff.

At present, Vice Admiral Singh is serving as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, and he will take charge as Navy Chief on May 31, the defence ministry said.

Born on November 3, 1959, Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1980. He earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982 and has flown extensively on Chetak and Kamov helicopters.

In his career spanning over 37 years, the Admiral has commanded four ships -- Indian Coast Guard ship Chandbibi, missile corvette INS Vijaydurg, guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.

Singh has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.