Politicsדוד עברי

David Ivry

David Ivry is a retired Israeli Air Force major general who commanded the air force from 1977 to 1982, including during Operation Opera, and later served as Israel's ambassador to the United States.

born 1934Commanding the Israeli Air ForceOperation Opera in 1981Ambassador to the United StatesFirst head of National Security Council

Occupation: diplomat, air force officer
Education: Israeli Air Force Flight Academy
Rank: aluf
Wars: South Lebanon conflict, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War, War of Attrition

David Ivry was born in 1934 in Tel Aviv

Ivry was born in Tel Aviv in 1934 to Abraham and Shoshana Kruiz, immigrants from Czechoslovakia. His family moved to Gedera when he was young. He attended high school in Rehovot.

He joined the IDF in 1952 and trained as a pilot in the air force. He rose through squadron and base commands and became commander of the air force in 1977. He also studied aeronautical engineering at the Technion from 1975 to 1977.

After leaving the army in 1982, he chaired Israel Aerospace Industries. He returned in 1983 as deputy chief of staff and head of the Operations Directorate. From 1986 to 1996 he was director general of the Ministry of Defense.

In 1999 he became the first head of the National Security Council. He was ambassador to the United States from 2000 to 2002. From 2003 to 2021 he was president of Boeing Israel and a vice president of Boeing International.

He lives in Ramat Hasharon and is married to Ofra, with 3 children. His son Gil, an F-16 pilot, was killed in a training accident in 1987. He received the Begin Prize in 2022.

Milestones in David Ivry's life

1934
Born in Tel Aviv.
1952
Joined the IDF and entered flight course No. 14.
1966
Became commander of the air force flight academy.
1977
Became commander of the Israeli Air Force.
1981
Commanded the air force during Operation Opera.
1983
Became deputy chief of staff and head of operations.
1986
Became director general of the Ministry of Defense.
1999
Became the first head of the National Security Council.
2000
Became ambassador to the United States.
2003
Named president of Boeing Israel.

David Ivry served in IDF Pilot Course

Ivry served in the Israeli Air Force from 1952, flying in the Sinai Campaign and the Six-Day War, and commanded the air force as a major general from 1977 to 1982. He later served as deputy chief of staff and head of the Operations Directorate from 1983.

IDF Pilot Course