Militaryאורית אדטו

Orit Adato

Orit Adato is a retired Israeli brigadier general who commanded the Women's Corps and was the first woman to serve as Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service.

born 1955Commanding the Women's CorpsFirst female Prison Service CommissionerPrison management consulting

Occupation: military leader, military officer
Education: University of Haifa
Rank: tat aluf

Orit Adato was born in 1955 in Kiryat Tiv'on

Orit Adato was born Orit Eliaz in 1955 in Kiryat Tiv'on. She was the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Moshe Eliaz and Rachel Pardo. Her family has lived in the country for 8 generations.

She earned a bachelor's degree in educational administration in 1987 and a master's degree in political science in 1993, both at the University of Haifa. She also graduated from the IDF National Security College.

She was drafted in 1973 and served at the women's training base, Bahad 12. After her release she married and moved to Haifa, then returned to the army. She held training and command posts and in 1997 became commander of the Women's Corps, where she worked to open higher ranks and combat roles to women.

In 2000 she was appointed Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service and served until 2003. Her term overlapped with the Second Intifada, and the Ofek Prison for juvenile inmates opened during it. She later founded Adato Consulting Ltd. and advises on prison management and security.