after his return goren held a number of high-ranking positions in the air force including: base commander of hatzor airbase during the war of galilee (1982), head of the intelligence group, head of air division, and in 1987 goren was appointed chief of staff of the air force, which is also the deputy commander of the air force. as the chief of staff he sought to stop the development of the iai lavi fighter aircraft because of the unbearable financial burden it imposed on the air force and the idf as a whole. he later led the staff through the design and implementation of an alternative power building programs, including purchase of 5 f-15s. 60 f-16s (c & d models), 24 apache attack helicopter and comprehensive uav development programs.