Hello Matan,
Here is the email I sent to Major Liat Shaul at MAFAT. I have not yet heard back from her.
I will forward the current agenda to you shortly.
Thank you for any assistance with this appointment.
Best regards,
Andrew
-----Original Message-----
From: Nichols, Andrew (COL US NDU/ES)
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2019 5:20 PM
To: 'Liat_shaul@mod.gov.il' <Liat_shaul@mod.gov.il>
Cc: 'Matan Or' <OrMatan@mail.gov.il>
Subject: Eisenhower School - Request for Visit to MAFAT on October 27th
Dear Major Liat,
Greetings from the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC! I received your email address from LTC Matan Or of the Israel National Defense College (INDC) -- he is facilitating an upcoming visit to Israel. I am writing to ask if I might meet with a representative of the Defense Research and Development Directorate (MAFAT) on the morning of Sunday, October 27th, in preparation for a possible student visit next spring (18-24 April 2020).
As it explains in the attached information sheet, I teach a course at the Eisenhower School called the Cyber Domain/Advanced Computing Industry Study (the 'Cyber IS'). At the Eisenhower School, we teach mid-career U.S. and international military officers (O5-O6), U.S. government civilians, and corporate executives who are pursuing a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy. In the future, many of these rising strategic leaders will play a role in acquiring new systems, influencing policy development, and resourcing national security strategies. (As an example, last spring, one of my students was an Israeli colonel, and now, he has returned to Israel to take a division command and be promoted to brigadier general.)
My course is about industry, innovation, and resourcing, and this year, we will have four focus areas:
- Cybersecurity/cyberspace operations
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Advanced computing (quantum and neuromorphic)
- Telecommunications (esp. 5G)
We are very interested in the relationships and actions among government, industry, and academic institutions that promote innovation, corporate and industrial competitiveness, and economic growth--especially as it relates to the technology and telecommunications industries. Experiential learning is a big part of the course, and we always take the students on the road to visit firms and agencies in the United States and abroad. This year, we are planning to travel to Austin, Texas, the Silicon Valley in California, and Israel.
I am requesting to visit MAFAT on Sunday, October 27th, because I am aware of your role in setting research and development (R&D) priorities for the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD). Also, last spring, when a different Eisenhower group visited Israel, they were able to able to meet with MAFAT's current Director, Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Danny Gold, and it was one of the highlights of their trip.
The purpose of the October 27th meeting would be to get acquainted, help me learn more about your agency, and discuss options for a future student visit in 2020 (18-24 April 2020).
The visits will occur under the overall responsibility of the Political Military Bureau Directorate (IMOD), and we have the support of both the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), and the Israel National Defense College (INDC) (esp. LTC Matan Or, ormatan@mail.gov.il).
If you or one of your colleagues is available to meet on the 27th, I would be grateful if we could settle on a time and location. I will be meeting with someone from the Defense Export Control Agency (DECA) at 10:30 a.m., so perhaps we could meet prior to that appointment.
For your reference, I have attached a copy of my preliminary agenda so you can see where I will be from day to day.
Thank you for your assistance!
Best regards,
Col Nichols
ANDREW H. NICHOLS, Colonel, USAF
Assistant Professor, National Security and Industrial Base Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy National Defense University
Eisenhower Hall (Bldg. 59), Room 415
andrew.h.nichols.mil@ndu.edu
Office: (202) 685-4319