Iran's state-owned airline, Iran Air, officially appointed its first ever female CEO on Tuesday, Press TV reported. 

Taking on the role is 44-year-old researcher and aerospace expert, Farzaneh Sharafbafi, who has now become the first woman to head the country's national airline since it was established in 1944

Sharafbafi replaced previous CEO Farhad Parvaresh, who has now been appointed as head of a delegation representing Iran at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada.

"In her new post, she will preside over the revamping of Iran Air’s aging fleet of passenger planes," Press TV wrote

So who is Sharafbafi?

According to Press TV, Sharafbafi has a PhD in aerospace. 

Prior to taking on her current role, she was the director of Iran Air's research department.  

The post allowed her to implement several important aviation projects.  

Sharafbafi has also previously taught aerospace courses at Iran's Amir Kabir University of Technology and Shahid Sattari University of Aeronautical Engineering.