Amikam Norkin
Commander of the Israeli Air Force
In office
August 10, 2017 – April 4, 2022
Prime MinisterNaftali Bennett
IDF ChiefAviv Kochavi
Preceded byAmir Eshel
Succeeded byTomer Bar
Personal details
Born (1966-12-20) December 20, 1966 (age 57)
Beit She'arim, Israel
Alma materUniversity of Haifa
Military service
Allegiance Israel
Branch/service Israeli Air Force
Years of service1984–present
Rank Major General
Commands133 Squadron
253 Squadron
Tel Nof Airbase
IAF Chief of Air Staff
IDF Planning Directorate
Israeli Air Force
Battles/wars2006 Lebanon War
Operation Guardian of the Walls

Aluf Amikam Norkin (Hebrew: עמיקם נורקין; born December 20, 1966) is an Israeli general, who served as commander of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) from 2017 to 2022. Before his selection to succeed Amir Eshel as commander of the IAF, Norkin served as head of the IDF Planning Directorate.[1][2]

Biography

Norkin was born in Beit She'arim to olim of Romanian-Jewish origin.[citation needed]

He was drafted in the IDF Armour Corps in 1984, and graduated from the IAF Flight Academy as a fighter pilot in July 1987. In 1988, he joined the "Knights of the Twin Tail" Squadron and became the youngest F-15 pilot in the world.[citation needed] In the start of the '90s, he flew the Kurnass 2000 variant of the F-4 Phantom II out of Hatzerim, and participated in bombing sorties during Operation Accountability. Later, Norkin was appointed first deputy squadron commander of the "Golden Eagle" Squadron and participated in Operation 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 new F-16I aircraft as commander of the "Negev" Squadron.

From 2009 to 2012, Norkin, now a brigadier general, commanded Tel 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 General Amir Eshel.

Norkin completed his term as commander of the IAF on April 4, 2022. He was succeeded by Tomer Bar.[4][5]

Awards and decorations

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amikam Norkin.
  1. ^ Bachner, Michael (November 3, 2016). "Lieberman appoints new IDF deputy chief of staff, Air Force commander". ynetnews. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Ahronheim, Anna (August 10, 2017). "IDF Appoints new Air Force Commander". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Gal Perl Finkel, IDF promotes officers who think outside the box, but still follow the line, The Jerusalem Post, June 18, 2018.
  4. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (2022-04-04). "New Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar takes up post". Times of Israel. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Ahronheim, Anna (2021-07-05). "New IAF commander announced: Tomer Bar - IDF". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Ari Gross, Judah (2021-10-19). "Israeli, German air chiefs exchange medals after Jerusalem flyover". Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  7. ^ Anna, Aronheim (2019-09-08). "IAF Chief Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin receives Legion of Merit". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
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