Herzle Bodinger joined the Israel Air Force in 1961, rising through the ranks as a fighter pilot, squadron leader, flight instructor, and base commander. He flew 451 combat sorties over enemy territory since 1963, including during the Six Day War (1967), War of Attrition (1969-1971), Yom Kippur War (1973), and the Peace for Galilee Operation (1982). He has two confirmed kills of enemy aircraft in air combat. Promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1984, he served as head of the IAF Operations Division, as IAF Chief of Staff and Deputy to the IAF Commander, and finally as Military Deputy to the Ministry of Defense Comptroller. In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed as the 12th Commander of the Israel Air Force. Upon retirement in 1996, Bodinger joined the high-tech company of Rada Electronic Industries, Ltd. and today serves as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. Major General Bodinger holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration from Bar-Ilan University, and studied in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is married to Urith and they have four children. |
