Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has made history as the first woman officer (non-medical) in the Indian defence forces to achieve the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or its equivalent). She is the first woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces to break this glass ceiling and reach such a milestone.

Historic Achievement

On Tuesday, AVM Sharma assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters. The Ministry of Defence stated that this landmark achievement marks a new chapter in the journey of women officers in the defence forces.

Commissioned into the Education Branch of the IAF on June 18, 1994, the senior officer has served across various training establishments, field stations, command headquarters, and Air Headquarters in her over three decades of distinguished service.

Key Contributions

Throughout her career, AVM Sharma 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.
  • Being the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School, serving as Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala.

Path to Promotion

One of the key reasons why a woman officer could achieve this feat is attributed to the Indian Air Force (IAF) officially granting Permanent Commission status to women officers in 2010. Since then, the IAF has streamlined opportunities for their promotion and career development, including their participation in various career courses.