Roman Gofman is an Israeli military officer and intelligence official serving as director of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. A career Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer, Gofman rose through the ranks of the Armored Corps before transitioning into senior advisory roles within the Prime Minister’s Office. His appointment marked a notable departure from precedent, as he is among the first Mossad chiefs to come directly from a military rather than intelligence background.
Gofman was born in Mozyr, Belarus (then part of the Soviet Union), and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1990 during the wave of post-Soviet aliyah. He grew up in Ashdod, where he has described a difficult period of social integration that led him to competitive boxing, an experience he later credited with shaping his approach to leadership and resilience.
He enlisted in the IDF in 1995, joining the Armored Corps, and began a long operational career. Over the following decades, he held a series of command positions, including company commander, battalion commander in the 7th Armored Brigade, and later commander of the Etzion Regional Brigade during a period of heightened security tensions in the West Bank. He subsequently commanded the 7th Armored Brigade itself and served in senior operational and planning roles within the Ground Forces.
Gofman’s military service included participation in multiple Israeli conflicts and operations, including the Second Intifada, operations in Gaza, and the 2006 Lebanon War. Known for advocating a more assertive use of ground forces, he at times challenged prevailing military doctrines, positioning himself as a field-oriented commander.
On October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, Gofman independently traveled from his home to the combat zone near Sderot, where he engaged militants and was seriously wounded. Israeli officials later cited his actions during the attack as evidence of personal initiative and battlefield leadership.
In 2024, he was appointed Military Secretary to the Prime Minister. This senior advisory role provides direct input on defense and national security matters and grants exposure to intelligence assessments across Israel’s security establishment. His tenure in this role placed him within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle during a period of ongoing regional conflict and strategic recalibration.
In December 2025, Netanyahu announced his intention to appoint Gofman as the next Mossad director, succeeding David Barnea. The appointment was formally approved in April 2026, with Gofman assuming office in June.
The nomination drew both support and criticism. Supporters highlighted his operational experience, leadership under fire, and close familiarity with current security challenges. Critics, including some former intelligence officials, pointed to his lack of prior experience within the intelligence community, describing the appointment as unconventional and potentially indicative of a shift toward a more militarized approach to intelligence operations.
Additional controversy has been associated with an earlier incident during his military service, in which a civilian minor in contact with Gofman was involved in an unauthorized influence operation that exposed classified information. Although the individual was detained before charges were dropped, Gofman received an administrative reprimand for the episode.
On June 2, 2026, Roman Gofman officially became Israel’s 14th Mossad chief after lengthy legal challenges to his appointment, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the ceremony to say the Iranian “regime of terror” is “destined to pass” and vowed that Israel “will help it reach that destination,” while declaring that Israel will not allow Tehran to regain the ability to threaten it with nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles. Addressing Gofman directly, Netanyahu said this would be his mission as Mossad chief. Gofman, for his part, said Israel’s actions against Iran and its proxies had created a “strategic reversal” and changed the regional balance of power, but stressed that the mission was not yet complete and that the Mossad would continue focusing on covert operations.
Gofman holds academic degrees in political science and national security studies. He is married and has children.
Sources: Ron Crissy, “Roman Gofman, once a teenage immigrant, now Netanyahu confidant set to lead the Mossad,” Ynet, (December 4, 2025).
Gila Isaacson, “Who is Roman Gofman, Netanyahu's Pick for Next Mossad Chief?,” JFeed, (December 4, 2025).
Yossi Yehosua, “Netanyahu’s Mossad pick: how Roman Gofman became PM’s most influential wartime adviser,” Ynet, (December 5, 2025).
Yehuda Shlezinger, Amir Bohbot, “Who is Roman Gofman, Netanyahu's military secretary and Israel's next Mossad chief? - explainer,” Jerusalem Post, (December 5, 2025).
Yaakov Lappin, “‘He has the courage to make decisions’,” JNS, (December 11, 2025).
“Israel approves appointment of new intelligence agency chief,” Reuters, (April 12, 2026).
Nava Freidberg, Emanuel Fabian, “Roman Gofman becomes new Mossad chief; at ceremony, Netanyahu says Israel will ‘help’ Iranian regime fall,” Times of Israel, (June 2, 2026).
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.