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Shaliza Dhami Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth1982

Age41 Years

BirthplaceLudhiana, Punjab, India

ProfessionDefence Personnel

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseVineet Joshi

FamilyTwo sons; parents Harkesh Dhami and Dev Kumari; brother Sarvsureshth Dhami

Shaliza Dhami Biography

Group Captain Shaliza Dhami is an Indian Air Force helicopter pilot who made history as the first woman officer to command a frontline combat missile squad

Early life and background

Shaliza Dhami was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, in 1982 and grew up in a family with strong public-service roots. Her father, Harkesh Dhami, worked for the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd before retiring, and her mother, Dev Kumari, served with the Water Supply and Sanitation Department. She has a brother, Sarvsureshth Dhami, who is a professor of defence studies in Imphal, Manipur.

Dhami attended Government High School at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana through class 10 and completed her higher secondary education at Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, where she later earned a B. Tech in Electronics and Communication. While a college student she joined the Air Wing of the National Cadet Corps, trained on gliders, and credited her NCC instructor with encouraging her to pursue a career in the Indian Air Force.

Career

After finishing her engineering degree, Dhami joined the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana. During training she flew solo for the first time in a HAL HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft. She was commissioned into the helicopter stream of the Indian Air Force as a flying officer on 20 December 2003.

Over the next two decades she rose through the ranks on scheduled promotion dates: flying officer (2003–2005), flight lieutenant (2005–2009), squadron leader (2009–2016), wing commander (2016–2019) and group captain from 20 December 2019. Her service number is 27773 F(P), and by March 2023 she had accumulated more than 2,800 flying hours.

While serving as a wing commander she attended the Flying Instructors School in Chennai and qualified as a certified instructor, becoming the first woman officer to complete that course. In August 2019 she took charge as flight commander of a squadron of Chetak helicopters at Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad, the first woman to hold that appointment.

Dhami has been posted to frontline formations, including a headquarters near the Line of Control. In March 2023 she assumed command of an Indian Air Force missile squadron deployed close to the Line of Control, becoming the first woman pilot in the IAF to lead a frontline combat unit. Her service has been recognised with two Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation Cards.

Public profile

Known by the nickname Babbal, Dhami is a career defence professional whose profile has risen with a series of pioneering appointments in the helicopter stream. Her military accomplishments have drawn media attention for breaking gender barriers in operational roles within the Air Force.

Outside her professional life, Dhami took part in sports and the arts while in school, including hockey, dancing and painting. Her parents have described their support for her participation in NCC and school life, noting decisions about her schooling that they say helped keep her grounded.

Personal life

Shaliza Dhami is married to Vineet Joshi, who is also an officer in the Indian Air Force with the rank of wing commander. The couple have two sons.

Latest updates

As of March 2023, Dhami was commanding a frontline missile squadron near the Line of Control and held the rank of Group Captain. Her record by that date included more than 2,800 hours of flying experience and two AOC-in-C Commendation Cards, milestones that underscore her operational experience and instructional credentials in the IAF.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Shaliza Dhami, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Command of a frontline missile squadron

Assumed command of an Indian Air Force missile squadron deployed near the Line of Control; first woman IAF pilot to lead a frontline combat unit.

2023
Flight commander of Chetak helicopter squadron

Appointed flight commander of a Chetak helicopter squadron at Hindon Air Force Base, the first woman officer in that role.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. First woman officer to command a frontline combat missile squadron of the Indian Air Force (March 2023)
  2. First woman to complete the Flying Instructors School course and qualify as a certified instructor
  3. First female flight commander of a Chetak helicopter squadron at Hindon Air Force Base (August 2019)
  4. Commissioned into the IAF helicopter stream on 20 December 2003
  5. Accumulated over 2,800 flying hours as of March 2023
  6. Awarded two Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation Cards
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shaliza Dhami born?

Shaliza Dhami was born on 1982.

What is Shaliza Dhami known for?

Shaliza Dhami is known for defence Personnel.

What is Shaliza Dhami’s marital status?

Shaliza Dhami's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Shaliza Dhami married to?

Shaliza Dhami is publicly listed as married to Vineet Joshi.