Major General (Res.) Nadav Padan
National Director, Friends of the IDF
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During his distinguished 37 years of military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Major General Nadav Padan held several command positions within the IDF, including Commander of the Central Command, Head of the Cyber Defense, and Commander of J6 CUI Cyber Defense Command.
Major General Padan began his career in the elite “Sayeret Matkal” Special Forces unit and went on to hold a wide range of commanding roles, including Commander of the Judea and Samaria Regional Brigade, Officer Training School “Bahad -1” and Special Forces Unit, “Duvdevan.”
From 2009-2016, General Padan served as a Commander of “Ga’ash,” the 36th Armor Division on Israel’s northern border, and then as Division Commander of “Haplada,” the 162nd Armor Division, and “Edom,” the 80th Division, operating on the southern border of Israel.
As a member of the IDF’s executive leadership, Major General Padan coordinated with Israel’s highest governmental echelon, including the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Cabinet, and Knesset Committees.
Key achievements include the establishment of the IDF’s cyber defense division, the pioneering of ground-breaking technological systems, the construction of the protective security fence on Israel’s southern border, and the training of Israel’s future officers as Commander of the IDF’s Officers School.
Major General Padan was awarded the “Legion of Merit” for promoting projects on behalf of the U.S. Armed Forces, after serving as the IDF’s Military Attaché in Washington D.C. (2007-2009). He holds degrees in Philosophy and Industrial Design from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Bezalel Academy, respectively, and earned his MBA and LLB from Peres College. He is married to his wife of nearly 31 years, Ma’ayan, and they have three children.