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Tal Kelman

Tal Kelman is an Israeli Air Force fighter pilot and reserve major general who headed the IDF Strategy and Third Circle Directorate from 2020 to 2023.

born 1967Heading the Strategy and Third Circle DirectorateFirst commander of Orange Tail KnightsCommanding the Flight Academy

Occupation: fighter pilot, military officer
Rank: aluf
Wars: 2006 Lebanon War

Tal Kelman was born in 1967

Tal Kelman joined the IDF in 1986 and volunteered for flight course number 117. He finished it as a fighter pilot. He holds a bachelor's degree with honors in business administration from the College of Management Academic Studies.

He flew with the Phoenix and Northern Knights squadrons and later served as a deputy squadron commander in several squadrons. In 2003 he took command of the Spearhead Squadron, which flies the F-15 Eagle. In 2005 he led the team that set up the Orange Tail Knights Squadron as an F-16I unit and became its first commander, and it soon flew strike missions in the Second Lebanon War.

He commanded the Flight Academy from 2008 to 2010, Ramon Airbase from 2010 to 2012 and Hatzerim Airbase from 2012 to 2014. He then headed the Air Division and later the Staff Division at Air Force headquarters. From 2018 to 2020 he headed the Strategic Division in the Planning Directorate.

In 2020 he was promoted to major general and headed the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate until 2023. After he retired, he returned to fly as a reservist in the Swords of Iron War, including Adir strikes in Iran during Operation Rising Lion. He sits on the board of Pertuto Ventures, joined the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as a fellow in 2025 and is a senior fellow at the Tachlit Institute.

Tal Kelman's life in 8 milestones

1986
Joined the IDF and volunteered for flight school.
2003
Became commander of the Spearhead Squadron.
2005
Became first commander of the Orange Tail Knights Squadron, flying the F-16I.
2008
Became commander of the Flight Academy.
2012
Promoted to brigadier general and given command of Hatzerim Airbase.
2015
Became head of the Air Force Staff Division.
2020
Promoted to major general and named head of the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate.
2025
Joined the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as a fellow.

Tal Kelman served in IDF Pilot Course

Kelman served as an Air Force fighter pilot from 1986, commanded squadrons, the Flight Academy and air bases, and fought in the Second Lebanon War. He reached the rank of major general and headed the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate from 2020 to 2023, then flew Adir jets as a reservist in the Swords of Iron War.

IDF Pilot Course