(Courtesy of FIDF) Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), the only organization authorized to collect charitable donations on behalf of the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) across the U.S., announced the appointment of Major General (Res.) Nadav Padan as its new national director. Padan started in his new role last month.
As national director, Padan will work alongside FIDF CEO Steven Weil and focus on deepening and strengthening FIDF’s relationships with its supporters. To accomplish that, Padan will be spending much of his time in the “field,” sharing Israeli culture and the spirit and values of the IDF with communities across the United States.
“Nadav, who helped shape the face of the IDF and the state of Israel for over 36 years, is, simply put, a treasure for the Jewish people,” said Weil. “He is the best person to connect with our donors on the ground and build bridges between communities. I look forward to working with Nadav to create a better future for the IDF, the state of Israel and the entire Jewish people.”
During his distinguished 36 years of military service in the IDF, Major General Padan has held several leadership positions, including commander of the central command and head of the cyber defense directorate. Padan began his career in the elite “Sayeret Matkal” special forces unit and went on to hold a wide range of leadership roles within the IDF. As a member of the IDF’s executive leadership, Padan worked closely with Israel’s highest-ranking governmental officials, including the prime minister, minister of defense, cabinet ministers and Knesset members.
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 ground forces liaison in Washington, D.C., from 2007 to 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. Padan and his wife, Ma’ayan, have been married for nearly 30 years and have three children.
“After serving many years in the IDF, I am now ready for my next mission—serving within the FIDF, an organization that I have always admired for its tremendous and transformational work for the IDF soldiers and the state of Israel,” said Padan. “I want to thank Steven Weil, the FIDF National Board and FIDF National Chairman, Rabbi Peter Weintraub, for entrusting me with this crucial responsibility, and I’m looking forward to my next chapter in serving the Jewish people and representing FIDF.”
