In first, female officer appointed president’s military secretary

President Isaac Herzog appoints Col. “N.” as the next military secretary to the president’s office, promoting her to the rank of brigadier general in the first time a female officer has been named to the position.

The decision was made in coordination with Defense Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, the president’s office says.

Forty-year-old “N.,” who cannot be named for security reasons, will succeed Brig. Gen. Alaa Abu Rukun, who has served in the role for the past three years. “N” has served in the IDF for 22 years, serving as IDF Central Command’s chief intelligence officer for the past year and a half.

“I congratulate Col. ‘N.’ on her appointment and I trust and am confident that she will be a welcome addition to my team of advisers, and that her professional and personal talents will bring tremendous value to the institution of the presidency, the IDF, and the whole State of Israel,” Herzog says in a statement.

“The glass ceiling is being smashed every day in Israel and I am proud that during my presidency, another glass ceiling is being smashed, by a worthy and promising officer,” the president adds.