Colonel Ponung Doming, SM, the first woman officer from North East India to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Indian Army, has been featured in Femina’s Independence Day special series In The Line Of Duty. The series honours 10 women Army officers who serve in diverse roles across the country.
Colonel Doming, a native of Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, currently commands the highest task force of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Ladakh, operating in extreme conditions where temperatures drop as low as -25°C. She is a part of the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army.
In a message to the youth, Colonel Doming said, “My advice to the youth is to follow the 3 D’s – Dream, determination and discipline.”
She has previously served as a United Nations Military Observer during a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In recognition of her service, she was awarded the prestigious Sena Medal on January 26, 2025, and has earlier received the Army Commander’s Commendation Card twice.
The In The Line Of Duty feature commemorates 78 years of India’s independence by spotlighting the stories of women officers who continue to inspire generations across the nation.
