Major General Benjamin Gantz.

Israel Defense and Armed Forces Attach? to the United States & Canada MG Benjamin "Benny" Gantz Joined the IDF in 1977. He volunteered as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1979 became an officer after completing officer's training school.

In 1987 MG Gantz was appointed commander of the paratrooper's 890th battalion. Following this post MG Gantz was appointed commander of the Elite Air Force Commando "Shaldag" in 1989.

During his career MG Gantz served in a number of different Combat units, Including Commander of Hebron Regional Brigade, Commander of a Paratroopers Reserve Brigade, Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, Commander of the Liaison to Lebanon Division and Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division.

In 2002 MG Gantz became commander of the, the Israeli Northern Command, where he dealt with the intensive activity of terrorist organizations along the Israel- Lebanon border.

Between the years 2005-2007 MG Gantz was Chief of the Ground Forces Command in the IDF's General Staff. In this position he was responsible for the force buildup i.e. warfare doctrine, training and equipping of the IDF Ground Forces.

MG Gantz assumed the duties of the Defense and Armed Forces Attach? to the United States and Canada in January 2008.

MG Gantz studied at Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa, receiving a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Political Science respectively. MG Gantz is a graduate of the IDF Inter-Arm Command and Staff College and the National Defense College. In the US MG Gantz studied the National Defense University.

MG Gantz is married to Revital, they have three sons and a daughter.