Career
He was elected on 15 August 2012 to replace Tin Aung Myint Oo who had resigned for personal reasons. He graduated from the 16th intake of the Defence Services Academy and served as commander-in-chief of the navy from June 2008. He was promoted to vice admiral in 2010 and made an admiral in 2012.
He was awarded the title of Thray Sithu on 4 January 2012.
As commander-in-chief of the navy, Nyan Tun oversaw a naval standoff with Bangladesh, the mending of Burmese-Bangladesh bilateral relations, the expansion of military relations with India and the modernization of the Burmese Navy, including the acquirement of two frigates from China.