Moti was born in Kibbutz Degania, the first kibbutz in the Land of Israel, in 1926. After WWII, Hod joined the Palmach and assisted in the “Aliyah Bet,” the illegal immigration of European Jews to Israel.
In Europe, Hod acted as an agent for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and brokered the purchase of several of Israel’s first fighter planes, which he then learned how to operate and flew back to Israel.
Upon his return to Israel, Hod quickly advanced the ranks and became head of IAF operations in 1960, and then head of the entire IAF in 1966. It was under his command that the IAF carried out Operation Focus, the operation that destroyed 90% of the Egyptian Air Force at the start of the Six Day War.
After retiring from the military, Hod entered the public sector and founded Cargo Air Lines Ltd., a cargo airline that transports hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo worldwide. He served as president for two years when he left to take up the role of president of El Al, later leaving El Al to serve as chairman of Israel Aircraft Industries.
Moti Hod passed away on June 29, 2003.