The chairman of the Defense Ministry’s Civil Defense division and the ministry’s director of special means, Brig. Gen. (ret) Moshe Edri, was appointed Wednesday to become the new chairman of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission. He has served in his current positions for the past six years.
Edri, 59, has been responsible in recent months for the coordination and leadership of the national effort to deal with the coronavirus. His duties have included integrating the activity of all professional elements as well as coordinating operative efforts and processes in plans for the economy, budgetary issues and acquisitions, and implementing directives from the political echelon.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern and African studies from the University of Haifa and a master’s degree in public policy from Bar Ilan University.
During his 31 years in the IDF, Edri served as commander of the Air Force combat rescue and evacuation unit, commander of Air Force special forces, commander of an air force base and head of the General Staff Special Means Brigade. Upon his discharge from the IDF in 2011 with the rank of brigadier-general, Edri served for three and a half years as a senior official with the Atomic Energy Commission.
Edri’s appointment was announced Wednesday by the office of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who said he was chosen “in light of his many years of experience, his achievements and his deep understanding of the security and regional challenges facing the State of Israel.”
The appointment takes effect in July 2022 following completion of the transition process, the approval of the Civil Service Commission appointments committee and approval by the government.