Amir Eshel – The Israeli Air Force Commander

Major General Eshel was enlisted in Pilot Training Course Number 88 in the year 1977. After completing the Pilot Training Course, Major General Eshel began his service as a "Skyhawk" pilot and later served as an instructor in the Flight Academy and as commander of "F-16" and "F-4 Phantom" squadrons. Nine years ago, he was nominated to become Head of the Operational Division and later commanded on Ramon and Tel-Nof airbases, served as Head of the Aerial Formation and Head of the IAF Headquarters. While he served as Commander of Tel-Nof airbase, Major General Eshel led the historical flight over Auschwitz Concentration and Extermination camp. "It had been a personal dream of mine for 15 years", said Major General Eshel, a child of holocaust survivors. "It's the most meaningful expression of the resurrection of these people and nation. As representatives of the IAF, we're the most tangible expression of the force of this nation and there's no one better than us to express it". In his last role in the IAF, during the Second Lebanon war, Major General Eshel served as Head of the IAF Headquarters. "The IAF is prepared for war on more than one front and at a large scale", he said at the time to the IAF magazine. "We have very good operational preparation. We're always prepared for a wide range of challenges and throughout the last war we learned much about ourselves and the enemy, knowledge that will serve us in the future". Major General Eshel is married and a father of three. He holds a master's degree in Political Science.