Girish Luthra
{{Short description|Officer of the Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Vice Admiral
| name = Girish Luthra
| honorific_suffix = PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
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| image = Vice Admital Girish Luthra.jpg
| image_size = 250px
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| caption = Vice Admiral Girish Luthra
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| allegiance = {{IND}}
| branch = {{navy|India}}
| serviceyears = June 1979 - January 2019
| rank = 20px 20px Vice Admiral
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- Western Naval Command
- Southern Naval Command
- INS Viraat
- INS Talwar
- {{INS|Khukri|F149|6}}
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Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of Indian Navy who served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command from 1 June 2016 to 30 January 2019. He took over the position from Admiral Sunil Lanba who was promoted to Chief of Naval Staff, and was succeeded by Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar.{{cite web | url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-girish-luthra-takes-over-western-naval-command | title=Vice Admiral Girish Luthra takes over Western Naval Command | date=30 May 2016 | publisher=Indian Navy | accessdate=19 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/node/386|title=Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command {{!}} Indian Navy|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in|language=en|access-date=2018-05-13}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/girish-luthra-take-chief-western-naval-command/|title=Girish Luthra to take over as chief of Western Naval Command|date=2016-05-27|work=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K|access-date=2018-05-13|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187888|title=Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P takes over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command|accessdate=2019-01-31|date=2019-01-31|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}{{cite tweet|user=indiannavy|number=1090817788447518720|date=2019-01-31|title=VAdm P Ajit Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM takes over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, the premier Command of #IndianNavy in an impressive ceremony at Mumbai. Returns where he has commanded two frontline Destroyers + stealth frigate & was Chief Staff Offr (Ops)}}
Early life and education
Luthra has attended the National Defence Academy, Pune; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; and Naval War College, Newport.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/vice-admiral-girish-luthra-named-flag-officer-commanding-in-chief-of-western-naval-command/articleshow/52500482.cms|title=Vice Admiral Girish Luthra named Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command|date=2016-05-30|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2018-05-13}}
Biography
Luthra was commissioned into the executive branch of the Navy in July 1979. He has commanded three warships including, INS Khukri, INS Talwar and INS Viraat. He has also served as the Navigation officer of many warships including INS Betwa, {{ship|INS|Dunagiri|F36|6}}, INS Gomati and INS Viraat. His staff appointments include Deputy Naval Attaché at High Commission of India, London; Fleet Navigating Officer of Western Fleet; Command Plans Officer at HQ, Eastern Naval Command; Principal Director Naval Plans; Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans); Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet; Director General of Naval Operations; and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). He was the FOC-in-C of Southern Naval Command before being appointed as FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command.{{cite web | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/vice-admiral-girish-luthra-takes-charge-of-southern-naval-command-english-news-1.832520 | title=Vice Admiral Girish Luthra takes charge of Southern Naval Command | date=30 January 2016 | accessdate=26 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vice-admiral-girish-luthra-assumes-command-southern-naval-command-0|title=Vice Admiral Girish Luthra assumes Command of Southern Naval Command|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=26 February 2016}}
During his career of almost four decades, he has been was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2017), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.
Luthra is known to be a gifted singer as well. He rendered the new version of the famous song "Ghar Se Nikalte Hi" (original artist: Amaal Malik,Arman Malik), a remake of the same from film "Papa Kehte Hain" as originally crooned by Udit Narayan, live at Western Command Golden Jubilee ceremony, garnering many views on YouTube. He has also released videos on Youtube for songs, Soch Na Sake from Airlift (original artists: Arijit Singh and Tulsi Kumar) and Nazm Nazm (original artists: Arko/Ayushmann Khurrana).
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}} | |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| Operation Vijay Medal |
| colspan="2"|20 Years Long Service Medal
|colspan="2"|9 Years Long Service Medal |
References
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef| rows=2| before = Sunil Lanba}}
{{s-ttl| title = Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command| years = 31 May 2016 – 30 January 2019}}
{{s-aft| after = Ajit Kumar}}
{{s-ttl| title = Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command| years = 2016 - 29 May 2016}}
{{s-aft| rows=2| after = AR Karve}}
{{s-bef| before = Rama Kant Pattanaik}}
{{s-ttl| title = Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet| years = 18 January 2011 - 25 May 2012}}
{{s-bef | before = Surinder Pal Singh Cheema}}
{{s-ttl | title = Commanding Officer INS Viraat | years = 15 May 2006 - 11 August 2007}}
{{s-aft | after = Abhay Raghunath Karve}}
{{s-end}}
{{Ati Vishisht Seva Medal recipients}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luthra, Girish}}
Category:Indian Navy vice admirals
Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet
Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal
Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal