Yoav Gallant was born in Israel in 1958. He is married and the father of three.

Gallant began his military career in 1977 as a naval commando. He later moved into the ground forces and in 1993 took up command of the Menashe (Jenin) Brigade of the West Bank Division. After serving for three years as commander of the 13th Flotilla, Gallant moved up to command the Gaza Division. In 2001 he became the Chief of Staff of the GOC Army Headquarters. Gallant attained the rank of a major general when he became the Military Secretary of the Prime Minister in 2002 and in 2005, Gallant was appointed as commander of the Southern Command.

After retiring from army service Gallant joined the new Kulanu party in January 2015 and was elected to the Knesset. In May 2015 he was appointed Minister of Construction.