New Delhi: Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has become the first woman officer from the non-medical stream in the Indian Defence Forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal or equivalent.
She assumed the appointment of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on Tuesday.
Commissioned into the Education Branch of the Indian Air Force on June 18, 1994, Sharma brings more than three decades of experience to her new role, according to an official statement.
During her career, she has served across training establishments, field stations, command headquarters, and Air Headquarters.
She has also led key institutional initiatives, including the establishment of IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University. These initiatives aimed to strengthen academic and strategic defence collaboration.
Sharma also became the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School. She served as the Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala.
Her elevation to the rank of Air Vice Marshal marks a significant milestone in the journey of women officers in the Indian Defence Forces.
With more than three decades of distinguished service, Sharma continues to inspire generations of women officers to “Touch the Sky with Glory”.
