Meet Group Captain Shaliza Dhami: First Woman to Command IAF Combat Unit

Group Captain Shaliza Dhami stands as a pioneering figure in the Indian Air Force (IAF), distinguished by her operational expertise as a helicopter pilot and her trailblazing leadership roles. In March 2023, she became the first woman officer in IAF history to command a frontline combat unit—a surface-to-air missile squadron in the Western sector bordering Pakistan—marking a historic milestone in the integration of women into combat leadership positions within the Indian Armed Forces.

This achievement, announced on the eve of International Women’s Day, underscored the IAF’s commitment to gender-neutral opportunities in operational roles. A qualified flying instructor with over 2,800 flying hours on Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, Group Captain Dhami’s career exemplifies professionalism, resilience, and excellence in a domain traditionally dominated by male officers.

Early Life and Educational Foundations

Born circa 1982 in Ludhiana, Punjab, Group Captain Dhami hails from a middle-class family with roots in government service. Her father, Harkesh Dhami (now retired from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited), and mother, Dev Kumari (retired from the Water Supply and Sanitation Department), instilled values of hard work and equality. The family, including her brother Sarvsureshth Dhami, a professor of defence studies at a university in Imphal, Manipur, maintained a supportive environment that encouraged pursuit of individual aspirations.

She completed her schooling at Government High School, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (up to Class 10), followed by Classes 11 and 12, and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication at Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana. During her undergraduate studies, she joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Air Wing, participating in training camps that included glider operations. Her NCC instructor, P. P. Singh of the IAF, served as a pivotal mentor, inspiring her to pursue a career in aviation. Her early interests encompassed hockey, dancing, and painting.

Her father’s deliberate choice to enrol her in a government school—rather than a more affluent convent institution—reflected a philosophy of humility and self-reliance. As he later reflected, this decision prevented any sense of inferiority and allowed her to focus on merit. The family never questioned her choices, including her attendance at NCC camps across locations, which proved instrumental in shaping her path.

Commissioning and Early Service in the Indian Air Force

Group Captain Dhami joined the IAF after completing her engineering studies and underwent training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana. She achieved her first solo flight in a HAL HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft in 2003. She was commissioned as a Flying Officer on 20 December 2003 through the 19 SSC (Women) Flying Pilot Course on a short-service commission in the helicopter stream.

Her subsequent promotions followed a standard timeline:

• Flight Lieutenant on 20 December 2005;
• Squadron Leader on 20 December 2009;
• Wing Commander on 20 December 2016;
• Group Captain effective 28 December 2021 (with seniority from 28 September 2021).

She initially served on a short-service commission but became the first woman officer in the IAF’s flying branch to be granted a permanent commission on 18 December 2018. A qualified flying instructor (QFI), she completed the 135 QFIC course at the IAF’s Flying Instructors School in Chennai on 21 November 2013, becoming the first woman in the IAF to qualify as an instructor for Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. She has twice received the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation.

Key Milestones and Leadership Roles

Group Captain Dhami’s operational experience includes service in the Western sector and participation in search-and-rescue missions as well as flood relief operations during natural calamities. In August 2019, she assumed the role of Flight Commander of a Chetak helicopter unit at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, becoming the first woman officer in the IAF to hold this position in a flying unit.

Prior to her command appointment, she served in the Operations branch of a frontline Command Headquarters. Her selection for promotion to Group Captain in 2021 made her the first female officer in the Indian Armed Forces to attain a selection-grade rank in a combat arm.

Historic Command of a Frontline Combat Unit

On 7 March 2023, the IAF announced Group Captain Dhami’s selection to command a frontline surface-to-air missile squadron in the Western sector. She assumed charge around 27 March 2023, becoming the first woman officer to lead such a combat unit in IAF history. The appointment placed her at the helm of a critical operational asset responsible for air defence readiness along the sensitive border with Pakistan.

This role demanded not only strategic oversight of missile systems but also leadership of personnel in a high-readiness environment. Her extensive helicopter flying background, combined with staff experience in operations, equipped her exceptionally for the assignment.

Further extending her leadership profile, Group Captain Dhami commanded the 91st IAF Day parade on 8 October 2023 at Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj—the first time a woman officer led the ceremonial event marking the service’s anniversary.

Personal Life and Support System

Group Captain Dhami is married to Wing Commander Vineet Joshi, also a helicopter pilot in the IAF and originally from Uttarakhand. The couple has two sons. Known affectionately by the nickname “Babbal” within her family, she balances professional demands with family life, drawing strength from a supportive network.

Her parents have expressed profound pride in her accomplishments, emphasising that her success stems entirely from her dedication. Harkesh Dhami has advised parents to “give wings to your daughters to fly” without imposing restrictions, a sentiment echoed by the family’s non-interfering approach to her career choices.

Legacy and Broader Impact

Group Captain Shaliza Dhami’s career has shattered multiple glass ceilings: first woman QFI on Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, first woman Flight Commander, first woman granted permanent commission in the flying branch, first to attain Group Captain rank in a combat arm, and first to command a frontline combat unit. Her service continues to inspire women officers across the armed forces and serves as a testament to the IAF’s evolving ethos of merit-based opportunity irrespective of gender.

Her journey from an NCC cadet in Ludhiana to a commander of combat assets illustrates that determination, supported by institutional progress and familial encouragement, can redefine possibilities in national defence.