Shakti Sharma Becomes 1st Non-Medical Woman Air Vice Marshal

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Shakti Sharma has scripted history by becoming the first woman officer from the non-medical stream of the Indian Defense Services to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal or equivalent. She assumed charge as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on September 1, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of women in India’s Armed Forces.

Shakti’s achievement comes after more than three decades of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF). She was commissioned into the IAF’s Education Branch on June 18, 1994. During her career, she has served across training establishments, field stations, Command Headquarters and Air Headquarters, gaining experience in several areas of military education and administration.

A major part of Shakti’s career has focused on strengthening the relationship between military education and academic institutions. According to the Ministry of Defence, she played a key role in establishing IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University. These initiatives were aimed at promoting academic engagement and strengthening strategic collaboration between defense institutions and academia.

Key Highlights:

• Shakti Sharma became the first non-medical woman Air Vice Marshal in the Indian Defense Services
• She has served in the IAF for over three decades since joining in 1994
• She has made key contributions to military education and academic collaboration

Before this elevation, Shakti already had a history of making history. The principal of the Sainik School, Kapurthala became the first female officer from the Tri-Services to be the Principal of a Sainik School. The position afforded her a chance to be in direct contact with pupils and inspire them to think about joining the Armed Forces. Sainik School Kapurthala records show that Group Captain Shakti was the Principal of the school from August 2015 till May 2017.

She is the first woman to reach the rank of senior officer, a distinction previously earned by men in the Armed Forces including medical officers. For instance, Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay became the first Air Vice Marshal (VWM) woman in 2002 and then the first Air Marshal (AM) woman in IAF. So Shakti's achievement is a leap forward for the women officers on non-medical branches.

The milestone also acknowledges the increasing opportunities that are becoming available for women in the Armed Forces. The IAF has taken a progressive step to extend women's participation in the force, from flying to operational posts. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth is now the first woman IAF officer to become a Fighter Combat Leader upon completing the challenging course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), Gwalior in 2026.

From joining the IAF Education branch in 1994 to a two-star officer, Shakti's story reflects how the role of women in the Indian defense services has evolved. As Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education), she will be a valuable asset to the IAF for educational and professional development programs.