Hello Ma’am,

 

Thank you for your assistance.  It appears I mistyped his email address—I should have used nir_ben-moshe@mod.gov.il.  In any case, I will not re-send the message, since you already forwarded my message to seek approvals for a visit.

 

I will stand by to hear back from DSDE.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Dear Andrew,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

First let me say that the reason you did not reactive a reply from DSDE's director is that you had the wrong email address. Nonetheless, I will be happy to act as the relevant POC for DSDE in this matter.

To the point, I have forwarded your request for a meeting and am currently waiting for the required approvals, as I cannot meet with you and discuss a joint collaboration without them. As soon as I hear anything – one way or another, I will let you know.

 

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information or questions.

 

Warm regards,

Dror

 

 

 

Hello Dr. Dror Harel,

 

Greetings from the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University (NDU).  I was provided with your contact information by my Department Chair, Col Sean O’Brien, USAF—a person you met last spring.

 

At the Eisenhower School, I teach the Cyber Domain/Advanced Computing Industry Study, and I am interested in bringing my students to Israel next spring for several visits to firms, government agencies, and academic institutions. 

 

A few days ago, I sent an introductory email to Mr. Nir Ben Moshe, Director of Security for the Defense Establishment (DSDE) (MALMAB), asking if I might visit your organization on Sunday, October 27^th.  I realize he might not be the person who deals with such matters, so I thought I would provide this information to you so you could forward it to another appropriate person within MALMAB, if needed.

 

For your reference, I have attached an information sheet about my course, along with the latest version of the preliminary agenda/itinerary for the last week of October.  (There have been no changes that would affect MALMAB, as far as I am aware.)

 

Happily, Mr. Yoram Ziflinger (yziflinger@mod.gov.il), Head of International Cooperation Division in the Defense Export Controls Agency (DECA), and Mr. Barry Zebrack (barry_zebrak@mod.gov.il) Regional Director, North America, of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), have already agreed to a visit on the 27^th.  I am currently working through LTC Matan Or (cc’d) of the Israel National Defense College (INDC) to arrange a visit to the Defense Research and Development Directorate (MAFAT) on the same day.  Because all of these offices are probably close to one another in Hakirya, Tel Aviv, I am hoping to sequence the appointments in a logical way.  Ms. Racheli Chen, Director DECA, advised me she would take steps to identify an appropriate sponsor in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) for one or both visits, and that should happen within a few days.

 

Could you please forward my request appropriately—or would it be best to wait to hear from Mr. Ben Moshe?

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Ben Moshe,

 

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, whom you may have met last spring in connection with his group’s visit to Israel and the Directorate of Security for the Defense Establishment (DSDE) (MALMAB).

 

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.  It would be very helpful if I could meet with you or one of your representatives on 27 October, and if my group could do the same in April.

 

I have already reached-out to these agencies for assistance with a possible visit on 27 October:

 

- Defense Research and Development Directorate (MAFAT) – TBD (LTC Or is coordinating, ormatan@mail.gov.il)

- Defense Export Control Agency (DECA) – Ms. Racheli Chen (rachel_chen@mod.gov.il)

- International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) – Mr. Barry Zebrak (barry_zebrak@mod.gov.il)

 

As discussed in the attached paper, 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 protection of intellectual property and critical technologies will be an important subject of discussion throughout the course.  We 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.

 

I think exposing the students to some information about MALMAB’s role in protecting critical technologies would add a lot of value to our visit.  Ideally, we would like to identify an appropriate sponsor within the Israeli MOD for both visits.

 

LTC Matan Or kindly told me that if a meeting space is needed for certain student engagements in April, INDC (located in Ramat Hasharon) would be able to provide it.

 

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

 

Thank you for your assistance!

 

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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