Shakti Sharma's Trailblazing Journey: From Commission to Air Vice Marshal

New Delhi, September 1 – The Indian Air Force celebrated a pioneering achievement as Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma, a career officer from the education branch, rose to the two‑star rank, becoming the first woman outside the medical services to hold this position.

Sharma’s career began on 18 June 1994 when she was commissioned into the IAF’s education stream. Over the next thirty‑plus years, she held a series of senior posts at training academies, field stations, command headquarters and the Air Force’s central administration. Her responsibilities covered curriculum design, faculty development, strategic outreach and inter‑service cooperation.

One of her signature initiatives was the establishment of a "Chair of Excellence" at both IIT Kanpur and Pune University. The chair was intended to foster joint research projects, promote knowledge exchange, and strengthen the strategic dialogue between India’s top technical institutions and the defence sector.

Earlier, Sharma made another first: she was appointed principal of Sainik School Kapurthala, becoming the inaugural female officer to command a Sainik School across the Army, Navy and Air Force. The appointment demonstrated her capability to lead large educational institutions traditionally overseen by male officers.

Her promotion has been hailed as a milestone for gender integration within India’s armed forces. By attaining the rank of Air Vice Marshal, Sharma not only adds to the growing list of women in senior defence roles but also expands the horizon of possibilities for female officers aspiring to high‑level command.

Sharma’s trajectory illustrates that women in the IAF are now entrusted with pivotal roles in training, institutional leadership, strategic partnerships and policy formulation. Her story aligns with the IAF’s ethos of “Touch the Sky with Glory,” symbolising a blend of aspiration and accomplishment.

The defence ministry lauds the achievement as evidence of evolving attitudes toward women’s leadership, emphasizing that competence, dedication and vision define the path to senior ranks, irrespective of gender.