advancing the Military Intelligence Directorate by several generations

[meliss]

Hi, does it mean that he improved it very quickly?
"Meir Amit, one of the IDF’s brilliant young commanders — a planner of the 1956 Sinai Campaign who was responsible for advancing the Military Intelligence Directorate by several generations — took over a Mossad in disarray."
Source: Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Meir Amit, one of the IDF’s brilliant young commanders — a planner of the 1956 Sinai Campaign who was responsible for advancing the Military Intelligence Directorate by several generations — took over a Mossad in disarray."

Source: Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman.

Hi, Does it "a planner ... was responsible for advancing the Military Intelligence Directorate by several generations" mean that he improved it very quickly?

Note my changes above. It's always best to put the quote first, then the source, then your question. Always make it clear exactly which words from the quote you are trying to paraphrase/rewrite.

It means that he made improvements that would generally be expected to take several generations so yes, your understanding is broadly correct.