Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz (2011-2015)
Benny Gantz was the 20th Chief of Staff of the IDF. He served in the position from 2011-2015.
07.11.17
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Born in 1959, Benny Gantz was drafted into the IDF in 1977, volunteering as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1979 became an officer after completing the Officer Candidate School. During his career Gantz has served in a number of roles, including: Commander of the Shaldag Unit in the Israeli Air Force, Commander of the 35th Paratroopers Brigade, Commander of the Reserves Division in the Northern Command, Commander of the Lebanon Liaison Unit, Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division in 2000, before becoming the Commander of the Israeli Northern Command in 2001, and as Israel's military attaché in the United States from 2005 until 2009.
On February 14, 2011 Gantz assumed command as the Chief of Staff of the IDF.
In his first year as Chief of Staff, Gantz appointed the IDF's first-ever female major-general, Orna Barbivai.
Gantz commanded the IDF when it fought against Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza in Operations Pillar of Defense (2012) and Protective Edge (2014).
