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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