AVM Shakti Sharma Becomes First Non-Medical Woman Air Vice Marshal

AVM Shakti Sharma has made history as she became the first woman officer from the non-medical cadre in the Indian Defence Forces to be promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, or equivalent. She was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters from September 1, 2026. This is a historic milestone for the Indian Defence Forces and the women officers in the country. Shakti Sharma has been commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s Education Branch in 1994 and has since held key positions in training institutions, field units, command headquarters and Air Headquarters.

Shakti Sharma’s Historic Milestone

The promotion of AVM Shakti Sharma is the first time that a woman officer from the non-medical cadre in the Indian Defence Forces has been elevated to the two-star rank of Air Vice Marshal, or equivalent.

She has joined the Indian Air Force Education Branch on June 18, 1994 and has completed more than three decades of service. She is now assigned to the task of being Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education), a position at Air Headquarters.

Key Achievements During Her Career

Sharma’s career is distinguished by assignments at different levels of Air Force ranging from training institutes, field formations, command headquarters to Air Headquarters.

One of the key achievements was her contribution in promoting the relationship between academics and defense through the establishment of the IAF Chair of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University.

This was done to foster academic relationships and strategic defense relations.

One other milestone in her career was the assumption of the position as the first officer to command a Sainik School from the Tri-Services. She held the post of the Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala.