Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair has marked a significant milestone in the history of the Indian Armed Forces by assuming the role of Director General Medical Services (Army) on August 1, 2024. This appointment makes her the first woman to ever hold this prestigious position. Before this historic achievement, she also distinguished herself as the first woman to serve as Director General of Hospital Services (Armed Forces) upon her promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.
Lt Gen Nair’s illustrious career began after graduating from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, where she excelled academically. Commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985, she has since gained extensive qualifications including a Post Graduate degree in Family Medicine, Diplomas in Maternal & Child Health and Health Care Management, and advanced training in Medical Informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Her training portfolio is further enhanced by her international experiences in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces, and in Military Medical Ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces in Spiez. Lt Gen Nair also served as the first woman Principal Medical Officer of both the Western Air Command and the Training Command of the Indian Air Force.
Additionally, Lt Gen Nair contributed her expertise as a member of the Dr Kasturirangan Committee, helping to draft the medical education component of the National Education Policy. Her exemplary service has been recognized with multiple commendations, including those from the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, and Chief of the Air Staff, as well as the Vishisht Seva Medal awarded by the President of India.
Lt Gen Nair’s ascent to the top of military medical services is not only a personal triumph but also a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to promote gender equality within the Indian Armed Forces. Her pioneering career is expected to inspire many young women to pursue leadership roles within the military sector.
She is effectively only the second woman officer who has served throughout in the Indian Air Force to be promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. The first woman officer to achieve this was Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay (Retd).
