in 1972, gillon was recruited by shin bet during his university studies. he initially worked as a bodyguard for senior staff. from 1982 to 1987, he was chief of the shin bet jewish department. from 1987 to 1989, he attended the national security college, serving in a number of senior positions during his studies for an ma in political science and public administration. from 1989, he was chief of the training division. from 1990, he was chief of the shin bet northern command, a position in which he was responsible for shin bet activity in lebanon. from 1993 to 1994, he was chief of the administrative division, responsible for hr, finances, and logistics. for four months in 1994, he was shin bet acting director during yaakov peri’s academic leave.