Defense Minister Israel Katz appointed Col. (res.) Dr. A as the new commander of Unit 8200 on Friday, the IDF announced.
This comes after the resignation of Brig.– Gen. Yossi Sariel in September, who stepped down after taking responsibility for his unit's failures in the October 7 massacre.
Col. A retired three years ago after serving as Unit 8200's deputy commander. During his tenure, he spearheaded initiatives to diversify the unit by recruiting talent from peripheral towns and launching educational programs in schools across northern and southern Israel. After leaving the IDF, he pursued a prominent role in the tech industry. However, senior military officials recently persuaded him to return and take charge of rebuilding the unit.
“This decision was personal for him,” said individuals close to Col. A. “He sees this as an act of Zionism. When he saw the unit struggling, with morale low and talent leaving, he knew he needed to act. He turned down a dream role in high-tech to focus on helping Unit 8200 recover.”
IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi announced Col. A’s appointment during a staffing meeting today, along with other key leadership changes, including Brig.-Gen. Nadav Lotan’s promotion to Commander of the Ground Forces.
Brig.– Gen. Nadav Lotan: A new role in the Ground Forces
Brig.–Gen. Lotan, a seasoned officer who joined the IDF in 1991 through the Armored Corps, has held numerous command roles throughout his career. He is an alumni of the National Security College and holds degrees in law, business administration, political science, and strategy from institutions including the University of Haifa and the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he completed the Zell Excellence Program in Business Entrepreneurship at Reichman University.
Rebuilding Unit 8200
Col. A’s appointment comes as Unit 8200 recovers from the resignation of Brig.-Gen. Sariel. Reports have pointed to operational failures and security breaches under Sariel’s command, including a controversial revelation published by The Guardian in April 2023, which exposed his identity through an easily traceable online document.
These events have raised questions about leadership and oversight within the unit. Although Col. A was not involved in the failures, his return signals a renewed focus on restoring Unit 8200’s morale. “This mission is about rebuilding and reuniting," Col. A told Maariv.
Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the appointments of Col. A, Brig.-Gen. Lotan, and 40 other senior officers. These changes are viewed as part of a broader effort to reinforce the IDF’s leadership amid ongoing investigations and criticism of recent military failures.
Final confirmation of these appointments is pending.