Wing Commander Maria Ismenia Sancha Pereira, hailing from Gonsua-Betalbatim in South Goa, has etched her name into history as the first Goan woman to be decorated in India’s wartime history. Her distinguished service as an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) in the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor earned her the prestigious Mention-in-Despatch, a recognition awarded for exceptional service in actual combat operations.
During the operation, Wg Cdr Pereira played a pivotal role in wartime intelligence. She provided crucial radar-based insights that guided Indian fighter jets to vital enemy targets, significantly contributing to the success of mission objectives. Her early warning inputs also helped thwart threats from adversarial aircraft and missiles directed at Indian forces — actions that saved lives and advanced the IAF’s operational edge.
The daughter of Eustaquio Francisco Pereira and Poma Pereira, Maria’s journey began in Goa’s educational institutions — she studied at Mary Immaculate Conception High School, Panaji, followed by Green Rosary Higher Secondary in Dona Paula. She later earned her engineering degree from Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi, before entering the defence services and rising through the ranks in one of the most demanding branches of the IAF.
Adding to Goa’s legacy in Indian defence history is Major Jacqueline Jacinta Dias, a Goan of the diaspora with roots in Bardez. She recently made headlines as one of the first Indian women officers to be posted as Officer Commanding of the Indian Army Overseas Dental Institution in Bhutan — a highly prestigious foreign assignment awarded to officers of exceptional merit. Major Dias is the daughter of Group Captain Joe Peter Matthew Dias and Anne Elizabeth Dias, both originally from Mapusa.
Together, Wing Commander Pereira and Major Dias represent the growing strength and recognition of Goan women in India’s defence services. Their achievements not only mark milestones in the armed forces but also inspire a new generation of young Goans — especially women — to pursue service, excellence, and leadership on a national and global scale.
These are not just individual milestones; they are moments of collective pride for Goa and for India.
