IAF appoints first-ever female flight squadron commander.

On August 7, the commander of the IAF appointed a female aircrew member as the first female flight squadron commander in the IAF. Maj. G' will act as commander of the 122nd ("Nachshon") Squadron after being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. "It is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. The real work is still ahead of me". 

Maj. G' will act as commander of the 122nd ("Nachshon") Squadron after being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel says IAF
(Credit: IAF/Koral Dvir)

IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin appointed Maj. G' as the Commander of the 122nd ("Nachshon") Squadron. Maj. G' will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, acting as the first female flight squadron commander in the IAF. "I'm happy that I was appointed", said Maj. G'. "It is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. The real work is still ahead of me. I am proud to serve in the IAF".

Maj. G', 34 years old, enlisted in 2003 to Flight Course 151 and graduated as a pilot in the Transport Division. At the end of the course, Maj. G' joined the 135th ("Kings of the Air") Squadron, which operates "Tzofit" (Beechcraft King Air B-200), "Kukiya" (Beechcraft King Air C-12) and "Hofit" (Beechcraft Bonanza) light transport aircraft. Later, Maj. G' transferred to the 131st ("Knights of the Yellow Bird") Squadron, which operates the "Karnaf" (Hercules C-130) heavy transport aircraft.

Maj. G' had numerous commanding positions at the Flight Academy and the 135th Squadron. From 2015 to 2017, she acted as Deputy Squadron Commander of the 122nd Squadron, to which she is now due to return as Squadron Commander. The squadron operates "Nachshon" (Gulfstream V) aircraft from Nevatim AFB, and participates in intelligence and aerial reconnaissance missions. She will begin her position in the upcoming months and replace acting squadron commander Lt. Col. A'.

This is just one of several appointments of female service members in key roles in the IAF which occurred over the past months: in January, the Commander of the IAF appointed the first female aviation squadron commander. T', a transport pilot by training, will be promoted next week to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and be the first aircrew member to fill the role. In addition, Maj. M', an airborne controller by training, was appointed commander of the IAF Operational HQ's Control Unit. Maj. M' will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and be the first air traffic controller promoted to this rank.

Last November, the Commander of the IAF appointed the first female Deputy Fighter Squadron Commander as well as two female Deputy Squadron Commanders in the RPAV (Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle) Division. Last October, the first female Aerial Maintenance Squadron Commander was appointed, and in September, two female Lieutenant Colonels were promoted to the rank of Colonel, one of them being the first female acting as Head of the Budget & Control Department.

(Source: IAF)