TEL AVIV (Realist English). On April 12, Major General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Roman Gofman, the military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, received official approval to become the next director of the Mossad intelligence agency.
His appointment as the new head of the intelligence service is the culmination of a military career that began three decades ago in the armored corps. Supporters of the general emphasize his unique experience and heroism at a critical moment for the country.
Gofman is considered a close associate of Netanyahu, having served as his military secretary for nearly two years. In this role, he carried out the prime minister’s assignments and oversaw the implementation of his directives within the IDF.
Early life and development
Roman Gofman was born in 1976 in Mozyr, Belarus. In 1990, at the age of 14, he immigrated to Israel with his family. In 1995, he was drafted into the IDF, choosing the armored corps.
Gofman has repeatedly noted that he was not accepted into elite units due to poor eyesight, which predetermined his fate as a tank crewman. After his service, he completed officer training, earned a higher education, and studied Zionist and Israeli history in depth.
Over the years of service, Gofman rose from a tank crewman to colonel, successively commanding a tank, a platoon and a battalion, taking part in combat operations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Command positions.
- Commander of the 75th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade: One of his first major command posts, where he proved himself a capable officer.
- Commander of the Etzion Brigade: In this post, he dealt with security issues in Judea and Samaria during a wave of terrorist attacks, demonstrating an understanding of the complexity of “targeted” measures.
- Commander of the 7th Armored Brigade (2016): In September 2016, Gofman was appointed commander of the IDF’s oldest tank brigade, stationed in the Golan Heights. This appointment was a significant milestone in his career.
- Commander of the 210th “Ha-Bashan” Division (2019): In 2019, Gofman was promoted to brigadier general and appointed commander of the division responsible for the security of the Golan Heights and the border with Syria. In this post, he was responsible for repelling threats from Iranian proxy forces.
- Chief of Staff of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT): After commanding the division, Gofman held this position, which involved coordinating civilian affairs with the Palestinian Authority.
- Commander of the National Ground Training Center at Tze’elim (2022): In 2022, he took command of the ground forces’ combat training center. This position became key for him ahead of the events of October 7.
October 7, 2023: heroism and severe injury
The morning of October 7, 2023, found Gofman at home in Ashdod. Hearing the news of the massive incursion, he, as commander of the Tze’elim training base, immediately headed to the combat zone.
- Participation in the battle: Arriving at the Sha’ar HaNegev junction, he joined a handful of police officers and engaged in battle with terrorists. Security cameras captured him moving under enemy fire, armed with his personal weapon.
- Injury and evacuation: During the firefight, Gofman was severely wounded in the leg. He was evacuated by a volunteer ambulance driver who initially did not know the identity of the wounded man but later recalled: “He told me he was the commander of the Tze’elim base, and his name is Roman.” Later, Gofman was taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
- Highest-ranking wounded officer: At the time, Gofman was the highest-ranking IDF officer wounded in action on October 7, which added to his public standing.
Path to the Mossad
After recovering, in May 2024, Gofman was appointed military secretary to Netanyahu with the rank of major general. In this role, he became the prime minister’s closest adviser, coordinating information from seven war fronts, which created friction with the then-chief of staff.
On December 4, 2025, Netanyahu announced his decision to appoint Gofman as the next director of the Mossad. On April 12, 2026, the advisory committee headed by former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis approved Gofman’s candidacy by a majority vote, despite Grunis himself issuing a dissenting opinion recommending his disqualification.
Gofman will assume the post on June 2, 2026, replacing David Barnea.
Within the Mossad, the appointment of a man without intelligence experience was received with mixed feelings. Experts expect protest resignations, but the main challenge for the new chief will be to prove that he can quickly master a new field, as the legendary Meir Dagan did, or to repeat the fate of the less successful Danny Yatom.
Gofman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and national security. He does not wear a kippah, but when sent by the army to study, he devoted one day a week to Judaic studies at the prestigious Bnei David academy. His candidacy for the post of prime minister’s military secretary, despite his secular lifestyle, was supported by Rabbi Eli Sadan, a key figure in the religious-Zionist movement.
He is married, has three daughters, and the family lives in Ashdod.