Netanyahu Appoints His Military Secretary As Israel's Chief Mossad

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Major General Roman Gofman, who now serves as the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, as the next Mossad Director, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

The current head of Israel's intelligence agency, David Barnea, will end his five-year term in June 2026. According to Channel 12, Gofman's election means he managed to outperform two other candidates proposed by Barnea.

The appointment is being submitted to the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointment for review.

Gofman was promoted through the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Armored Corps, becoming division commander before leaving the combat role.

"Gofman is a very honorable officer," PMO said in a statement, reported The Times of Israel (5/12).

His appointment as prime minister's military secretary in the midst of the war proves he has extraordinary professional abilities, ranging from his rapid entry into the role to his direct and significant involvement in seven war arenas.

PMO stated, Gofman "maintains continued coordination with all intelligence and security agencies, especially Mossad."

Netanyahu's office praised Gofman's "creativity, initiative, intention, in-depth knowledge of enemy, full wisdom and strict secrecy".

"The Prime Minister believes that Major General Gofman is the most qualified and appropriate candidate to serve as director of Mossad and wishes him great success in this important role," the Prime Minister's Office said.

Born in Belarus in 1976, Gofman, who moved to Israel at the age of 14 in 1990 and started his military career in the IDF Armored Corps in 1995.

Gofman then served as tank commander in the 188th Armored Brigade. In 2011, he led the 7th Armored Brigade 75th Battalion and in 2013 served as operations officer of the 36th Division.

Gofman's military career continued by leading the Regional Brigade Etzion in the West Bank in 2015, before returning to the Armored Corps to lead the 7th Armored Brigade.

In 2020, Gofman was appointed commander of the 210th Regional Division of "Bashan", which is responsible for the border with Syria.

In 2022, Gofman led the Tzeelim training base in southern Israel. During the October 7, 2023 attack, he rushed to the Gaza border and was seriously injured while fighting Palestinian militants in a shootout at the Sha'ar Hanegev Intersection, just outside Sderot.

"He was injured there, recovered, and has done an outstanding job for Israel's security," said Prime Minister Netanyahu.

"I'm sure he will continue to do so even more strongly in the next role in Mossad," he praised.

Before holding the position of Military Secretary in 2024, Gofman served as chief of staff at the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Region (COGAT) of the Ministry of Defense.

It is known that the appointment of a military general to lead Mossad is rare, but not unprecedented.

Meir Dagan, a major general serving in the military between 1963 and 1996, was appointed in 2002 to lead the intelligence agency, where he served until 2011.