Amina J. Mahmood

First female fighter pilot in Iraq, breaking gender barriers in military aviation

Amina J. Mahmood made history in 2021 as Iraq's first female fighter pilot, shattering glass ceilings in the male-dominated military aviation sector. Born in Baghdad in 1995, she pursued her passion for aviation despite societal expectations that women avoid STEM fields. After graduating top of her class at the Iraqi Air Force Academy, she trained on MiG-29 jets and became a vocal advocate for women's inclusion in defense roles. Her story gained international attention through BBC interviews (BBC article) and TEDx talks. Amina co-founded the Women in Iraqi Skies initiative, mentoring female cadets and lobbying parliament to revise discriminatory recruitment policies. Her advocacy led to a 20% increase in female enrollments at military academies by 2023. In 2024, she delivered a keynote at the Global Gender Summit (GS2024), emphasizing how gender diversity enhances national security. Amina's story is chronicled in the documentary Breaking the Ceiling: Iraq's Sky Warriors (2022). Her achievements were recognized by the UN Women's Leadership Award in 2023, with her memoir Rising Through the Clouds (2024) detailing her struggles and triumphs.