Amikam Norkin | |
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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 | (1966-12-20)December 20, 1966 (age 58) Beit She'arim,Israel |
Alma mater | University of Haifa |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1984–present |
Rank | ![]() |
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 a retired Israeli general,[1] who served as commander of theIsraeli Air Force (IAF) from 2017 to 2022. Before his selection to succeedAmir Eshel as commander of the IAF, Norkin served as head of the IDFPlanning Directorate.[2][3]
Norkin was born inBeit She'arim toolim of Romanian-Jewish origin.[citation needed]
He was drafted in the IDF Armour Corps in 1984, and graduated from theIAF Flight Academy as a fighter pilot in July 1987. In 1988, he joined the "Knights of the Twin Tail" Squadron and became the youngestF-15 pilot in the world.[citation needed] In the start of the '90s, he flew theKurnass 2000 variant of theF-4 Phantom II out 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-16I aircraft 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,[4] replacing Major GeneralAmir Eshel.
Norkin completed his term as commander of the IAF on April 4, 2022. He was succeeded byTomer Bar.[1][5]