When Linda Markham takes over as president of Cape Air in a few weeks, she will assume a much bigger role than overseeing 1,000 employees and planning growth strategies for one of the largest independent regional carriers in the country. She will also be the only woman president of a North American airline — and among only a few worldwide.

Markham, 49, took an unusual path to get there, rising from human resources director to chief administrative officer before being named president. Typically, the top executive posts go to pilots or maintenance managers, jobs traditionally held by men, aviation industry specialists said.