Air Marshal Shakti Sharma becomes first woman AVM in IAF
AVM Shakti Sharma becomes the first woman non-medical officer in Indian defence forces to reach Air Vice Marshal rank.
In a landmark moment for the Indian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has become the first woman officer from a non-medical background in the country's armed forces to be promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal or its equivalent. She formally assumed the role of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on September 1, 2026.
AVM Sharma was commissioned into the Education Branch of the IAF on June 18, 1994. Over her three-decade career, she has served across training establishments, field units, command headquarters, and the Air Headquarters, gaining diverse operational and administrative experience.
Among her notable contributions, she led the establishment of IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University, aimed at strengthening academic and strategic defence collaboration. She also made history earlier by becoming the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School, serving as principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala.
The Defence Ministry described the promotion as a historic milestone, marking a new chapter for women officers in the Indian defence forces. Her career, it said, continues to inspire future generations to uphold the IAF motto, 'Touch the Sky with Glory'.