Shmaya Avieli

Shmaya Avieli was born in 1960 in Be'er Tuvia

Shmaya Avieli was born on October 13, 1960, and grew up in Moshav Be'er Tuvia.

He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He earned a master's degree in public administration from Auburn University in the United States. He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Air War College.

He joined the IDF in January 1979 and finished flight course 96 with honors as an attack helicopter pilot in 1981. He commanded Squadron 160, flying Cobra helicopters, during Operation Grapes of Wrath, and later Squadron 113, flying Apache helicopters. He commanded Ovda Air Base from 1999, Palmachim Air Base from 2002 to 2005, and served as air attaché in the United States and Canada from 2006 to 2009.

In April 2010 he became head of SIBAT, the defense assistance division of the Ministry of Defense, and held the post until September 2014. Michel Ben Baruch replaced him. In the reserves he served as a helicopter instructor at the flight school until 2020.

He sits on the board of trustees of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is one of the founders of the Rakia pre-military academy. He is married to Sharon, they have 4 children, and they live in Kfar Mordechai.