The Indian Air Force (IAF) has for the first time selected a woman officer to command a frontline combat unit in the Western sector facing Pakistan. Group Captain Shaliza Dhami is an experienced helicopter pilot.
Giving details here on Tuesday, IAF officials said Group Captain Dhami was commissioned in the year 2003 as a helicopter pilot and has over 2,800 hours of flying experience. A qualified flying instructor, she has served as flight commander of a helicopter unit in the Western sector.
Group captain in the IAF is an equivalent of a colonel in the Indian Army.
Having been commended by the air officer commanding-in-chief on two occasions, the officer is presently posted in the operations branch of a frontline command headquarters.
Earlier this month, the Army began assigning women officers to command roles for the first time, outside the medical stream. Around 50 of them will head units in operational areas, including forward. This will happen in both the Northern and Eastern Commands.
The selection of Group Captain Dhami for this position highlights the Indian armed forces’ ongoing efforts to provide women with more opportunities and expand their role in combat and command appointments.