Hello Sir,

 

Thank you for all of your assistance with my upcoming visit.  I have attached the latest copy of the itinerary for your reference.

 

I have a couple of questions about the Monday schedule:

 

- Would it still be possible to meet with someone from NCSA on Sunday, October 27^th?  The original plan was to meet with them from 09:30-10:00, but I noticed from your email that the meeting with Dr. Harel shifted to that timeslot.

 

- Could I also meet with someone from MAFAT?  LTC Or provided me with the contact information for Major Liat Shaul at MAFAT, and I reached-out to her, but have not yet heard back.  A few days ago, I received contact information for Mr. David Ovadia at MAFAT, and we could use that, if needed.

 

I am eager to hear news about meeting with someone from the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), if possible – perhaps on Wednesday, October 30^th.

 

There are a few other appointments I would like to confirm I the schedule --  LTC Or and others are helping me to firm them up.

 

The schedule for the morning of the 31^st is still a little light, since I have not yet heard back from BGU’s Cyber Center of Excellence, or the National CERT.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Hi Andrew,

the VR is ok for our meeting.

The meeting with SIBAT will be between 0900-0930 in SIBAT HQ 3^rd floor room no 306.

After our meeting you will have the meeting with Dr. Dror Harel from DSDE in the same room and after that Mr. Yoram Ziflinger from DECA will come to escort you to their HQ.

When you arrive to the Kirya please make sure that you go to Begin Gate. I will send someone to assist you enter the Base and to escort to our building.

Concerning the National Cyber Directorate (INCD), I will try to contact them and I will let you know ASAP.

best regards,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Sir,

 

Very good.  Those meeting times will work for me just fine.  Could you please confirm the location/address?  All I have is the generic Hakirya information from your business card.

 

As you know, Dr. Dror Harel from DSDE has agreed to meet with me at 08:00 on 27 October, in your office (she told me you kindly offered the space).

 

I found the VR form you were talking about, and have routed it through our security officer, who will pass it government to government within a day or two.  This should answer your earlier request for personal details needed to facilitate my entry into the building.

 

Would you be able to assist me with contacts to Israeli National Cyber Directorate (INCD) (Ma'arach) and the National CERT?  I know NCSA (in your building) is part of INCD – it appears INCD has a facility in Jerusalem that might be worth visiting, and the National CERT has a facility in Beer Sheva that my counterparts visited last spring.

 

Thank you,

Andrew

 

 

 

Hi Andrew,

We will be happy to meet you in SIBAT HQ (which is walking distance from DECA).

We can meet you at 0900 and at 0930 you will have the meeting with NCSA also in our HQ.

Please confirm the meetings schedule.

Concerning the VR please contact your military attaché in Tel Aviv. They know how to do it and they have the format.

Best regards,

 

 

 

Hello Sir,

 

A few quick questions in connection with my upcoming visit:

 

- What time would you like to meet on Sunday the 27^th?  I will meet with Mr. Yoram Ziflinger of DECA at 10:30.  I have not yet firmed-up the appointment times at the other agencies near you:  MAFAT, DSDE, and maybe NCSA.  The preliminary agenda is attached, and I should say that the meetings with IDF Unit 8200 and the Israel National Defense College could potentially shift, if needed.

 

- When would be a good time to contact you to provide you with the personal details you need to ensure my access to your building?

 

- Is there an address affiliated with the Political Military Bureau Directorate, and your office?  I think I will need to list them in the visit request (VR).

 

- Do you have contact info for someone at Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. in Tel Aviv, and if so, could you please send it to me?  I am trying to set up a visit there for the morning of October 28^th.

 

The visit request (VR) is still in work on this end.

 

Thank you!

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Hi Andrew,

SIBAT is working and responsible only for Defense and HLS companies.

Check Point Software and Elbit Systems Ltd are defense companies so I can assist you to coordinate the visit during your delegation in  April 2020.

All the rest are civilian companies and we are not working with them.

You need to send a formal visit request (VR form). Your embassy in Tel Aviv knows how to do it.

As I understand, the visit will be under the responsibility of the Political Military Bureau Directorate. we will be responsible for the visit in the defense industries.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information.

Best regards,   

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Sir,

 

Excellent – thank you very much for your assistance.

 

Could you please advise me which personal details you need to facilitate my visit to IMOD?  Please pardon the question – my colleagues who have been there previously are not available at the moment to advise me.

 

I am in the process of reaching-out to certain firms in Israel to see if I might visit later this month.  This is sometimes a round-about process, so if you happen to have established contacts in any of these firms that you could share with me, please do.

 

These will probably be the most challenging to contact:

 

Check Point Software

Elbit Systems Ltd.

Partner Communications Co., Ltd.

Viola Group (venture capital investing)

 

These will be easier, since I have contacts at the U.S.-based offices who might facilitate an introduction (but I would still welcome additional contacts, if you have any):

 

Google AI

IBM Israel

Intel Israel 74

 

Email addresses are preferred, given the time difference with the United States.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Dear colonel Nichols,

It will be our pleasure to support the Eisenhower School visit in in Israel in every way we can.

I will be happy to meet you in our HQ in Tel Aviv on 27^th of October to discuss in more details our cooperation.

Please send me your personal details so I can arrange your entrance permit to IMOD.

best regards,

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Zebrak,

 

Thank you for a moment of your time to request a little assistance to support two upcoming Eisenhower School visits to Israel.  I was provided with your contact information by a colleague of mine at the Eisenhower School, Col Sean O’Brien, USAF, who I think worked with you last spring in connection with his group’s visit to Israel and SIBAT.

 

At the Eisenhower School, I lead the Cyber Domain/Advanced Computing Industry Study (the ‘Cyber IS’), and I am planning to bring up to 15 people to Israel next spring for an overseas field study experience (approx. dates:  18-24 April 2020, with meetings from 19-23 April), and we are seeking a few additional contacts in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MOD) to facilitate meetings with selected government agencies and private sector organizations.  I am planning to make a preparatory visit to Israel on 26 Oct-1 Nov 2019 to establish initial contacts, gather insights, and discuss options for a future group visit.  Information about my course is included in the attached document.

 

Fortunately, we are already receiving generous support and assistance from the Israel National Defense College (INDC) (esp. LTC Matan Or), and Col Shlomo Binder (a 2019 Eisenhower graduate), to plan these visits; however, it would help to have additional contacts in the following agencies to facilitate them:

 

- International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) (Sean recommended you)

- Defense Export Control Agency (DECA)

- Directorate of Security for the Defense Establishment (DSDE) (MALMAB)

 

Soon, I will be reaching out to Mr. Nir Ben Moshe, Director of DSDE (MALMAB) (nir_ben-moshe@mod.gov.il, +972-3-697-5767), and Ms. Racheli Chen, Director, DECA (rachel_chen@mod.gov.il, +972-3-697-6006/5/4) for assistance as well.

 

For your situational awareness, the Cyber IS course is aimed at helping our students to:  understand the factors that promote innovation and growth in the technology sector, prepare them to leverage the contributions of industry, government, and academic players to resource national security strategies, and lead at a strategic level.  The course will conclude with student-led presentations to senior government and private sector executives in which the students will describe their recommended strategies to address policy challenges relevant to the domain.  Because there are many technology-related business areas, our focus next spring will be on firms, agencies, and institutions whose work touches on at least one of the following four areas:

 

- Cybersecurity and cyberspace operations

- Artificial intelligence (AI)

- Advanced computing (quantum and neuromorphic)

- Telecommunications (esp. 5G technology)

 

The preliminary agenda for my October visit is included below my signature block.  The intent is to schedule a similar (but deeper) set of engagements for the students next spring.

 

Would you be able to help me arrange a brief visit to SIBAT on 27 October, and to help me develop contacts at the private companies listed below—specifically:  Check Point Software, Partner Communications Co., Ltd. (or Bezeq Israeli Telecommunications Corp. Ltd.), Viola Group, Google AI, IBM Israel, Elbit Systems Ltd., and Intel Israel 74?  It would be helpful to have an appropriate sponsor in the Israeli MOD to signal such engagements would be worthwhile.

 

LTC Or kindly told me that if a meeting space is required for certain student visits in April, INDC would be able to provide it.

 

I would welcome any contacts you might recommend, and other thoughts and suggestions.  Please send them to me at:  andrew.h.nichols.mil@ndu.edu.

 

Thank you for your assistance, sir.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

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

 

 

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Preliminary Agenda for the Preparatory October Visit

(Subject to change, as some visits may need to be shifted or cut out due to time constraints)

 

 

Arrival on Saturday, 26 October 2019

 

- Col Nichols will be the only traveler

- In-country transfers will be conducted via rental car

 

Sunday, 27 October (Tel Aviv and Ramat Hasharon)

 

- Defense Research and Development Directorate (MAFAT)

- Directorate of Security for the Defense Establishment (DSDE)(MALMAB)

- Defense Export Control Agency (DECA)

- International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT)

- National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA)

- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Unit 8200

- Israel National Defense College

 

Monday, 28 October (Tel Aviv, Rosh HaAyin, and Herzliya)

 

- Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

- Partner Communications Company, Ltd., or Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Corp. Ltd.

- Viola Group (venture capital firm)

- Google AI

- IBM Israel Ltd.

 

Tuesday, 29 October (Haifa)

 

- Elbit Systems Ltd.

- Intel Israel 74 Ltd.

 

Wednesday, 30 October (Jerusalem)

 

- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Quantum Information Science Center (QISC)

- Israel Innovation Authority

- Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD)

- MassChallenge Israel

 

Thursday, 31 October (Beer Sheva)

 

- Ben-Gurion University (BGU) Cyber Excellence Center

- National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT)

- Gav Yam Negev Advanced Technologies Park

 

Departure on Friday, 1 November

 

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