Amikam Norkin
Amikam Norkin | |
---|---|
Commander of the Israeli Air Force | |
In office August 10, 2017 – April 4, 2022 | |
Prime Minister | Naftali Bennett |
IDF Chief | Aviv Kochavi |
Preceded by | Amir Eshel |
Succeeded by | Tomer Bar |
Personal details | |
Born | Beit She'arim,Israel | December 20, 1966
Alma mater | University of Haifa |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Israel |
Branch/service | Israeli Air Force |
Years of service | 1984–present |
Rank | Major General |
Commands | 133 Squadron 253 Squadron Tel Nof Airbase IAF Chief of Air Staff IDF Planning Directorate Israeli Air Force |
Battles/wars | 2006 Lebanon War Operation Guardian of the Walls |
AlufAmikam Norkin(Hebrew:עמיקם נורקין;born December 20, 1966) is an Israeli general, who served as commander of theIsraeli Air Force(IAF) from 2017 to 2022. Before his selection to succeedAmir Eshelas commander of the IAF, Norkin served as head of the IDFPlanning Directorate.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Norkin was born inBeit She'arimtoolimof Romanian-Jewish origin.[citation needed]
He was drafted in the IDF Armour Corps in 1984, and graduated from theIAF Flight Academyas a fighter pilot in July 1987. In 1988, he joined the "Knights of the Twin Tail" Squadron and became the youngestF-15pilot in the world.[citation needed]In the start of the '90s, he flew theKurnass2000 variant of theF-4 Phantom IIout ofHatzerim,and participated in bombing sorties duringOperation Accountability.Later, Norkin was appointed first deputy squadron commander of the "Golden Eagle" Squadron and participated inOperation Grapes of Wrath.He next headed the IAF Operations Department. Between 1999 and 2002 Norkin was commander of the "Knights of the Twin Tail" Squadron. In 2003 he was chosen to integrate the IAF's newF-16Iaircraft as commander of the "Negev" Squadron.
From 2009 to 2012, Norkin, now a brigadier general, commandedTel Nof AFB,and was appointed head of the IAF Training & Doctrine Division in 2012. In August 2014, he was appointed IAF Chief of Air Staff until June 2015, when he was promoted to the rank of major general and was appointed head of the IDF Planning Directorate.
On August 10, 2017, Norkin was appointed Commander of the IAF,[3]replacing Major GeneralAmir Eshel.
Norkin completed his term as commander of the IAF on April 4, 2022. He was succeeded byTomer Bar.[4][5]
Awards and decorations
[edit]- Israel:
- Germany:
- Commander of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany(2021)[6]
- United States:
- Commander of theLegion of Merit(2019)[7]
References
[edit]- ^Bachner, Michael (November 3, 2016)."Lieberman appoints new IDF deputy chief of staff, Air Force commander".ynetnews.RetrievedNovember 4,2016.
- ^Ahronheim, Anna (August 10, 2017)."IDF Appoints new Air Force Commander".The Jerusalem Post.RetrievedAugust 11,2017.
- ^Gal Perl Finkel,IDF promotes officers who think outside the box, but still follow the line,The Jerusalem Post,June 18, 2018.
- ^Fabian, Emanuel (2022-04-04)."New Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar takes up post".Times of Israel.RetrievedApril 8,2022.
- ^Ahronheim, Anna (2021-07-05)."New IAF commander announced: Tomer Bar - IDF".The Jerusalem Post.RetrievedApril 8,2022.
- ^Ari Gross, Judah (2021-10-19)."Israeli, German air chiefs exchange medals after Jerusalem flyover".Times of Israel.Retrieved13 April2022.
- ^Anna, Aronheim (2019-09-08)."IAF Chief Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin receives Legion of Merit".The Jerusalem Post.Retrieved13 April2022.
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Israeli Air Force generals
- Israeli military aviators
- Israeli Jews
- University of Haifa alumni
- Israeli people of Romanian-Jewish descent
- Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Commanders of the Legion of Merit
- Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Members of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America