Shakti Sharma Appointed India’s First Female Two-Star Officer Outside Military Medicine

In a landmark development for the Indian Armed Forces, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma assumed charge as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on September 1, 2026. Her elevation marks the first time a woman officer from a non-medical branch has attained the two-star rank of Air Vice Marshal (or its equivalent) across the Indian military services. Prior to this appointment, she served in the rank of Air Commodore.

The Ministry of Defence highlighted the promotion as a critical milestone reflecting the evolving leadership opportunities for women within India’s defence establishment, beyond conventional operational boundaries.

Career Milestones and Strategic Contributions

Commissioned into the Education Branch of the Indian Air Force on June 18, 1994, AVM Sharma brings over three decades of institutional and field experience to her new posting.

• Academic and Strategic Alliances: She spearheaded key initiatives bridging defence and academia, notably the establishment of IAF Chairs of Excellence at institutions including IIT Kanpur and Savitribai Phule Pune University to foster joint research and technological collaboration.
• Command of Sainik School Kapurthala: She previously made military history by becoming the first female officer across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to command a Sainik School, serving as Principal of Sainik School Kapurthala in Punjab.
• Core Responsibilities: In her role as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education), she oversees the IAF’s overall educational frameworks, training policies, academic institutions, and human resource capability-building programs.

While women officers have previously risen to flag rank within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), AVM Sharma’s elevation represents the first two-star promotion for a woman officer serving in an administrative and support branch outside medicine.