New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has chosen Group Captain Shaliza Dhami as the commander of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector. The position is equivalent to a Colonel in the Army.
She is the first woman IAF has chosen to lead a frontline combat unit, a missile squadron in this case. The Army recently started assigning women officers commanding roles outside the medical stream for the first time. The same will be happening in the Northern and Eastern Commands.
Dhami was commissioned in 2003 as a Helicopter pilot and has over 2,800 hours of flying experience. She is also a qualified flying instructor who has served as the Flight Commander of a Helicopter Unit in the Western sector, reported NDTV. She is currently posted in the Operations branch of a frontline Command Headquarters and has been commended by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on two occasions.