Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Major General Aviv Kochavi, Head of the Intelligence Corps

Major General Aviv Kochavi was born in 1964 and enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1982. In 1987 he served as a company commander in the Echis battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade, a position he continued to hold in 1988 when he became company commander in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Company. Between 1989-1993, he completed a bachelor's degree in philosophy and graduated from the Command and Staff College, until he was appointed operations officer in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1993.

In 1993, he commanded the Cobra battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade, a position which he held for over a year, until he was appointed Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade's training base. Between 1996-1997, he completed a Masters degree at Harvard University in the US. In 1998, he took office as the Commander of the Eastern Brigade of Lebanon Liaison Unit.

Between 1999-2001, he commanded the reserve brigade of the Paratroopers Brigade, after which he served at the Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, during Operation Defensive Shield and additional operations. In 2003-2004, he commanded the Paratroopers Brigade's Fire Formation division until he was appointed Commander of the Gaza Division, which he commanded during the disengagement and Operation Summer Rain.

 In 2006, he completed a Masters degree at the John Hopkins University in the US and in 2007 he held his last position as the Head of Operations Directorate, during which he planned and participated to Operation Cast Lead.

Major General Kochavi is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, has a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the Hebrew University and a Masters degree in public administration from Harvard University and an additional masters degree from John Hopkins University in Maryland in the US. He is married and a father of three.