Who Are Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh?
Indian forces reached a historic milestone when Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh joined Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to lead “Operation Sindoor” press briefings. The conference outlined India’s military strategy for combatting the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack which murdered 26 people.
Read Also: India Strikes Terror Camps in Pakistan in Operation Sindoor
The Army’s Corps of Signals saw Colonel Qureshi reach milestone history when she became the first female officer to lead an Indian contingent during a multinational military exercise in 2016. The Gujarat native received her postgraduate degree in biochemistry before joining the military during her 1999 commissioning ceremony from Chennai’s Officers Training Academy.
Colonel Qureshi comes from a military heritage through her grandfather’s service in the Indian Army and her mechanic infantry officer husband. She spent time with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Congo during 2006.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, flying her second Chetak and Cheetah helicopters thanks to her 2,500 flying hours in complex environments. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) flying branch as a permanent member during 2019.
Her accomplishments include:
- She guided a vital rescue mission during 2020 in Arunachal Pradesh
- The 2021 expedition of Mt. Manirang was led by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh along with fellow tri-service women component members.
