Former Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and former Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force, bringing four decades of defense leadership, procurement expertise, and operational command.
Major General (Ret.) Amir Eshel is one of Israel's most distinguished military leaders. He brings four decades of operational command, strategic leadership, and defense-procurement expertise — and unparalleled relationships with the world's leading defense establishments.
From 2020 to 2023 he served as Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, overseeing defense procurement, R&D, and Israel's defense export industry. From 2012 to 2017 he served as Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force, overseeing the integration of next-generation systems including David's Sling and becoming the first air force commander globally to commission and fly the F-35. For his partnership with the U.S. Air Force he received the Legion of Merit.
Earlier he served as Head of the IDF Planning Directorate, responsible for Israel's national security strategy and its most sensitive strategic relationships. He holds a B.A. from Auburn University, an M.A. from Haifa University, and is a graduate of Israel's National Defense College.