Yosef 'Yossi' Meir Cohen (born September 10, 1961) is a prominent Israeli intelligence officer who served as director of Mossad, Israel's premier foreign intelligence agency, from June 2016 until his retirement on June 1, 2021. His career began in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where he served as a combat soldier and officer in the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit from 1979 to 1987, gaining expertise in special operations, counter-terrorism tactics, and participating in high-risk missions. He joined Mossad in 1987 as a case officer, progressing through key roles including head of the Collections Department (Tzomet Division), deputy director, and ultimately director, appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December 2015. During his directorship, Cohen oversaw aggressive operations against Iran, including alleged involvement in the sabotage of Iran's nuclear program, cyber intelligence efforts, the 2018 theft of Iranian nuclear archives, and the 2020 assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied these operations. His tenure drew international criticism and accusations of extrajudicial killings from human rights groups. Post-retirement, he entered the private sector as a strategic advisor in cybersecurity, joining the advisory board of Team8, a prominent Israeli cybersecurity venture capital firm, and becoming a senior partner at Glossy Ventures, a Tel Aviv-based private equity firm focused on technology investments. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1989). As an Israeli Jewish national, Cohen embodies Israel's security-oriented culture, maintaining a low-profile demeanor with his career characterized by commitment to Israel's security interests and operating behind the scenes due to the classified nature of his work. He has a background in cyber operations and national security, and remains a figure of interest in discussions on global counterintelligence networks and geopolitical tensions, continuing to be a prominent figure and key figure in Israeli intelligence circles.