Gil Regev

Gil Regev was born in 1951 in Herev Le'et

Gil Regev was born Gil Zigman on June 22, 1951, in moshav Herev Le'et in the Hefer Valley, where he still lives. He went to high school in Kfar Vitkin. He changed his family name to Regev early in his military service.

He studied at Auburn University in Alabama as part of the US Air Force war college. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Regev enlisted in July 1969 and finished flight course 64 as a fighter pilot in 1971. He flew Phantoms in Squadron 201 and shot down 2 enemy planes in the Yom Kippur War. After a period as a farmer from 1976, he returned to service in 1983, later commanding Squadron 201 and, from 1990, Nevatim base.

He became head of the Manpower Group in 1997 and head of the Manpower Directorate in July 2001, serving until July 2004. In that role, more women joined combat units, the Women's Corps was closed, and reservist conditions were improved. He supported making the IDF a more professional army.

In 2004 military police investigated a complaint against him, and the Military Advocate General found he had exceeded his authority but committed no ethical offense. On May 22, 2005, a command reprimand was recommended. He later served as a judge on the second season of the reality show The Ambassador.