Who is Roman Gofman, Israel’s next Mossad chief?
A veteran field commander turned military secretary, Gofman is poised to take on Israel’s top intelligence post amid intense scrutiny of past operational decisions and evolving regional challenges to the Mossad.
Roman Gofman has been named the next director of Mossad, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Thursday. The Prime Minister’s Office said Gofman, currently Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military secretary, will succeed David Barnea.
Gofman held senior command positions, including commander of Battalion 75, Etzion Regional Brigade, 7th Armored Brigade, Bashan Division, and the IDF Ground Training Center in Tze’elim. He was also the highest-ranking IDF officer injured during the Gaza War.
Since May 2024, Gofman has served as Netanyahu’s military secretary, a role in which the Prime Minister’s Office said he earned full trust and high regard. He participated in the creation of the humanitarian mechanism for food distribution in the Gaza Strip.
In May 2024, Channel 13 reported that Sara Netanyahu briefly participated in an additional interview as part of the process to nominate Gofman for military secretary, which sources described as an unusual involvement.
In January 2024, Haaretz reported that, while commanding the 210th Division, Gofman approved a teenager’s participation in an influence operation, leading to the youth’s prolonged detention. The indictment was later quashed after it emerged the teenager had acted on behalf of the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Major General Roman Gofman. (credit: PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE)
Call for investigation into the use of a minor
In March 2025, the IDF Military Defense requested the military prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into Gofman’s conduct, alleging that he tasked the teenager, identified as Elmakias, when he was a minor, with an intelligence mission without proper authorization and in a manner that endangered his life.
Gofman’s appointment comes as Mossad faces regional threats and ongoing hostage diplomacy. The Prime Minister’s Office did not specify a transition timeline in Thursday’s announcement.
