Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan to be appointed Air Force chief
Head of IDF planning department to replace Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shkedi as Air Force commander
New appointment among top brass in IDF: Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, currently the head of IDF planning department, is set to replace Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shkedi as commander of the Israeli Air Force, according got to an announcement from Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday.
The appointment came recommended by IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.
Shkedi, who has held the Air Force reins for four years, is planning to retire from the military.
Nehushtan, 51, has held a variety of positions in the Air Force including commander of a squadron of F-16s, head of the armaments division of the Air Force general command as well as the commander of the Hatzor Air Force base.
He beat out Brig. Gen. Ami Eshel, who is currently the chief of the IAF general command as well as Brig. Gen. Yohanan Locker, the chief air squadron, who were also contenders for the position.
