Meet Colonel Ponung Doming: The First Woman Colonel from North East India 🇮🇳

Colonel Ponung Doming’s rise is a landmark for the Northeast and for women in uniform. Born in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, she combined engineering training, grit, and a fierce commitment to service to break long-standing barriers in the Indian Army.

1. Early life and education

• Born and raised in Pasighat, East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Schooled locally and went on to study civil engineering at Walchand College of Engineering (Maharashtra).
• Worked with Larsen & Toubro in Kolkata before choosing a military career.

1. Journey to the Indian Army

• Cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) while working and joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.
• Commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in 2008.
• Rapid career progression: promoted to Major in about 4.5 years and later to Lieutenant Colonel (historic promotion reported in 2019).

1. Historic promotions and firsts

• In September 2019 she became the first woman officer from Arunachal Pradesh to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
• On June 1, 2023, she was promoted to Colonel, becoming the first woman officer from the Northeast to reach that rank.
• She is also the first woman to command a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) task force at extreme altitudes.

1. High-altitude leadership and service

• Currently commanding the highest Border Task Force in Ladakh, operating above 15,000 ft.
• Her unit works on critical infrastructure, including maintaining the world’s highest motorable road and constructing roads at extreme altitudes.
• She leads teams in harsh conditions where temperatures fall to -20° to -25° C and oxygen is scarce.

1. International experience and recognition

• Served as a UN peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo early in her career.
• Featured across national media and celebrated on platforms like the Ministry of Defence and major news outlets for her trailblazing role.

1. Legacy and inspiration

• Ponung Doming’s story symbolizes breaking gender barriers in the Indian Armed Forces.
• She inspires youth, especially girls from the Northeast, to dream big, pursue engineering and military careers, and aim for leadership.
• Her message: stay disciplined, determined, and committed — nothing is impossible.

Conclusion
Colonel Ponung Doming’s achievements bridge regional pride and national service. From Pasighat to the highest military outposts, her journey highlights courage, leadership, and the changing face of India’s armed forces. Her career not only secures strategic border infrastructure but also paves the way for more women to lead in uniform.