Shaliza Dhami becomes 1st woman officer in IAF history to Command combat unit

Mangalore Today News Network / News18

New Delhi, Mar 07, 2023: A day ahead of International Women’s Day, the Indian Air Force announced that it has selected Group Captain Shaliza Dhami to take over command of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector. Breaking the glass ceiling, she has become the first woman officer in the IAF’s history who has been given command of a frontline combat unit.

 

In the IAF, the post of Group Captain is similar to a Colonel in the Indian Army.

Here’s all about Group Captain Shaliza Dhami:

    * In 2019, Dhami became the first woman IAF officer to have been promoted to the post of the Flight Commander of a flying unit.

    * With over 15 years of experience, she has many firsts to her credit. Born in Punjab’s Ludhiana, her first solo flight was in 2003 in a HAL HPT-32 Deepak.

    * She was commissioned a flying officer in the IAF in 2003 and was later promoted to flight lieutenant in 2005 and to squadron leader in 2009.

    * Dhami, who holds over 2,800 hours of flying experience, will now oversee missile readiness and command-control in the country’s sensitive border sectors.

    * She has also been applauded by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on two occasions and is currently posted in the Operations branch of a frontline Command Headquarters.