BELGRADE, Serbia

Slovenia Tuesday appointed its first-ever female army chief, also the only woman in charge of a NATO country's military. 

Maj. Gen. Alenka Ermenc, 55, will officially take the reins of the Slovenian Armed Forces from her predecessor Alan Geder in a ceremony on Wednesday.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor expressed his belief that Ermenc will help strengthen the nation’s military capabilities.

Ermenc last week was promoted to general, also the first Slovenian woman to reach that rank.

Ermenc has served in the army since 1991, the year Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia. She studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies and King’s College University, both in London.