Shakti Sharma becomes IAF’s first woman Air Vice Marshal

In a historic milestone for the Indian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has become the first woman officer (non-medical) in the country’s armed forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal or equivalent, officials said on Tuesday.

She assumed the appointment of assistant chief of the air staff (education) at the Air Headquarters on September 1, they said.

The air officer previously held the rank of air commodore, an IAF official said.

“In a historic milestone for the Indian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma became the first woman officer (non-medical) in the Indian Defence Forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or equivalent),” the defence ministry said.

Commissioned into the Education Branch of the IAF on June 18, 1994, AVM Sharma brings a wealth of experience to her new role, spanning diverse postings across training establishments, field stations, command headquarters and the Air Headquarters, it said.

“Throughout her career, she has spearheaded key institutional initiatives, including establishing the IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University to drive academic and strategic defence collaboration. She also created history as the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School, serving as principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala,” the ministry said in a statement.

This landmark achievement marks a new chapter in the journey of women officers in the Indian defence forces. With over three decades of distinguished service, she continues to inspire generations to ‘Touch the Sky with Glory’ — the motto of the IAF, it said.