By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Israel on Monday named Roman Gofman a senior aide of PM Netanyahu as a new intelligence chief of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad as leadership reshuffle signals focus on security strategy after conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named his military secretary, Major General Roman Gofman, as the next head of Mossad, backed a close aide with battlefield experience to lead the country’s top intelligence agency.
The appointment, cleared by an advisory panel on senior positions, comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, with Israel’s security establishment navigating ongoing conflict and evolving threats.
Netanyahu confirmed the decision in a post on X, said he had approved Gofman’s appointment after it was vetted by a committee led by former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis.
Major General Gofman has served as my military secretary for the past two years.
He is an outstanding officer–bold and creative–who has demonstrated throughout the war a perspective outside the box and impressive resourcefulness. I wish Major General Gofman great success in his next role as Mossad chief, and I am confident that he will do much for Israel’s security,” Netanyahu stated.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Gofman will take over as Director of the Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations on July 2, 2026, for a five-year term.
Media reported that he will succeed outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea, whose tenure is set to conclude in June.
Gofman is considered a trusted associate of Netanyahu and has served as his military secretary for two years.
He travelled on behalf of the prime minister on various assignments and helped oversee the execution of directives within the Israel Defense Forces, the Times of Israel reported.
He was born in Belarus, Gofman moved to Israel with his family in 1990 at the age of 14.
Gofman built his career in the IDF Armored Corps, eventually rising to the rank of division commander before stepping away from frontline roles.
He was commanding the Tzeelim training base during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
Gofman rushed to the Gaza border and was seriously injured in a firefight with militants near Sderot.
He had authored a policy paper suggested that Israel retain military control over Gaza after defeating Hamas, a proposal that triggered debate within policy circles before taking up his current role in 2024.
