Amir Eshel
| Amir Eshel | |
|---|---|
Eshel at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
|
|
| Commander of the Israeli Air Force | |
|
Assumed office 10 May 2012 |
|
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu |
| IDF Chief |
Benny Gantz Gadi Eizenkot |
| Preceded by | Ido Nehoshtan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 (age 57–58) Jaffa, Israel |
| Alma mater |
Auburn University University of Haifa |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Israel
|
| Service/branch |
 Israeli Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1977–present |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands |
201 Squadron Ramon Airbase Tel Nof Airbase IAF Air Group IAF Chief of Air Staff IDF Planning Directorate Israeli Air Force |
| Battles/wars |
1982 Lebanon War 2006 Lebanon War 2008-2009 Gaza War 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense Operation Protective Edge |
Aluf Amir Eshel (Hebrew: אמיר אשל; born 1959) is an Israeli general who serves as the current Commander of the Israeli Air Force. A Major General since 2008, Eshel is a former head of the IDF Planning Directorate. He succeeded Ido Nehoshtan as commander of the Israeli Air Force on May 10, 2012.
Born in 1959, Eshel was drafted into the IDF in 1977. After graduating from the IAF Flight Academy as a fighter pilot in 1979, Eshel flew the A-4 Skyhawk, first out of Etzion and then from Ramon. He also flew the Skyhawk during the 1982 Lebanon War. After serving with the flight academy as a combat instructor, Eshel went on to fly the F-16 out of Ramat David Airbase. Between 1993 and 1995 Eshel commanded 201 Squadron at Tel Nof. Flying the Kurnass 2000 variant of the F-4 Phantom II, Eshel led the squadron during Operation Grapes of Wrath. Between 1997 and 1999 Eshel headed the IAF's Operations Department.
In 1999 Eshel was assigned command of Ramon Airbase. On December 16, 1999, while ferrying an AH-64 Apache from Ramon to northern Israel, Eshel carried out a routine weapons systems check on the supposedly unarmed helicopter, accidentally firing an AGM-114 Hellfire which narrowly missed a group of IAF reserve soldiers nearby. The incident, for which he fined himself, was written up in his record, but did not prevent further promotion. In 1999 Eshel was assigned command of Tel Nof.
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