Ran Kochav

Ran Kochav was born in 1971

Ran Kochav was born on July 6, 1971, in Bat Yam and grew up in Rishon LeZion. He attended the Gymnasia Realit and was a counselor in the Working and Studying Youth movement.

He holds a bachelor's degree in communications and business administration from the College of Management. He earned a master's degree in strategic studies from the US Air Force Air University in Alabama, and another in political science from Haifa University and the National Security College.

Kochav joined the IDF in 1989 and served in the air defense forces of the Air Force. He commanded the 66th battalion and the Arrow missile 136th battalion, and in 2011 became the first commander of the 168th air wing. He took part in bringing the Iron Dome system into operation.

In 2016 he was promoted to brigadier general and became chief officer of the Military Police, serving until 2018. He then commanded the Air and Missile Defense Forces, and in 2021 was appointed IDF Spokesperson. He served during Operation Breaking Dawn and Operation Breaking Waves and left the post in 2023.

From 2023 to 2024 he was a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, studying air defense for Europe. In July 2024 he announced his retirement from the IDF. He is married to Hila, has 4 sons and lives in Caesarea.