Avner Balkany

Avner Balkany was born in 1965 in Israel

Avner Balkany was born on December 5, 1965, and grew up in Tel Aviv. He studied in the science track at Ironi Hey high school.

He joined the IDF in July 1984 and completed pilot training as a helicopter pilot. He commanded Squadron 193 at Ramat David from 2001 to 2003 and Squadron 123, which flies Black Hawk helicopters, from 2003 to 2005. On July 20, 2006, a helicopter under his command evacuated a badly wounded soldier under fire in the village of Ayta ash-Shab in southern Lebanon, and the soldier survived.

From 2007 to 2010 he served as military attaché in Brazil, also responsible for Peru, Uruguay and Bolivia. In April 2010 the Brazilian defense minister awarded him the Victory Medal for building cooperation between the countries.

He was CEO of the Etgarim association, which uses outdoor adventure sports to support people with special needs, from 2014 to 2022. In June 2022 he became principal of the Shikma Darca school, and he serves as a reserve flight instructor at the Air Force flight school.

He holds a bachelor's degree in military history from the US Air Force Command and Staff College in Alabama and a master's degree in diplomacy and security from Tel Aviv University. He lives in Kfar HaOranim, is married to Navit and has 3 children.