Who is Shakti Sharma? First woman to become non-medical Air Vice Marshal in Indian Air Force
AVM Sharma was first commissioned into the IAF's Education Branch in 1994. Since then, she has served across various postings and training establishments.
On Tuesday, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma took her place in history as the first woman officer in the Indian defence forces to reach the rank of Air Vice Marshal. This milestone, achieved after over three decades of distinguished service, marks a significant advancement for women in the military. Sharma assumed command of the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters, a role she has held since June 18, 1994.
Throughout her career, she has broken barriers, including establishing the IAF Chairs of Excellence at Il-T-Kanpur and Pune University and serving as Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala. The achievement was made possible by the Indian Air Force's Permanent Commission status for women officers since 2010, which has streamlined opportunities for promotion and career development.
Sharma's accomplishment reflects the intense competition in career advancement, with limited vacancies and a high number of qualified applicants. Despite this, women officers in the IAF have made notable achievements, including Group Captain Shaliza Dhami commanding a frontline combat unit and Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth becoming the first woman pilot to clear the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course.
In May, Squadron Leader Saanya earned the Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor (Cat-A QFI) qualification, setting new standards for women in the Indian Air Force.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express - India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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