Hello Sir,

 

I was wondering if we might shift our appointment to first thing in the morning of Thursday, 31 October—perhaps at 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.—as you suggested in your email, or better still would be to move it to 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 28 October.  Would that be a possibility?

 

I do have a 10:30 a.m. appointment at Check Point on the 28^th.  I believe they are located not far from you, so perhaps we could still meet from 8:00 to 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. on the 28^th.

 

Elbit Systems

Azrieli Towers

[Please specify which tower, etc.]

Derech Menachem Begin 132, Tel Aviv-Yafo

 

Check Point

5 Shlomo Kaplan, 6789159 Tel Aviv-Jaffa 6789159 Israel

 

Please let me know what’s possible.  Also, please confirm your address (i.e., which tower I need to head to, etc.).

 

Thanks,

Andrew

 

 

 

Andrew,

Since your plan right now includes driving down to Beer Sheva (about 90 minutes’ drive south of Tel Aviv). Let’s pencil in tentatively 16:00 in Azriely tower.

We could also do first thing in the morning if you prefer.

Ron

 

 

 

Hello Sir,

 

Excellent.  It will be great to meet with you to discuss Elbit and more.  Yes, I will pencil you in for a meeting in Tel Aviv on October 31^st, and perhaps we could identify the time as I hear back from the other firms/agencies I have contacted.  It should be manageable.  If I am understanding you correctly, you are recommending Netanya as the likely best place for the April group visit.  That should be fine, and yes, we can discuss the options later this month.  You may wish to note as well that LTC Matan Or told me that the Israel National Defense College (INDC) in Ramat Hasharon could provide meeting space, if needed, but perhaps in this case it would be best to visit your facilities (for possible demonstrations, etc.).

 

I will re-contact you as plans firm up.  Please advise me if there is anything special I need to do to gain access to your facility.  I will be driving a rental car.

 

I have cc’d LTC Matan Or at the INDC for his situational awareness.

 

The current draft itinerary is attached.  I am sure it will change a bit as meetings shift slightly in the coming days.

 

Best regards,

Andrew

 

 

 

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for reaching out to me. We would be happy to host the NDU students in our facility.

Would it be possible to meet in Tel-Aviv on the 31^st? Maybe after you are back from Beer-Sheva?

Within the areas of interest you described we have some technologies that span throughout our different business divisions:

- Cybersecurity and cyberspace operations

                CyberBit – Based in Raanana mostly focused in protection of infrastructure facilities. In addition have a line of Cyber simulators (2 actually in the US) for training cyber professionals. Maybe a visit to the Cyber training facility in Israel could be interesting.

                Cyber business unit – Based in Netanya and mostly focused on cyber solutions for military.

- Artificial intelligence (AI)

                Quite a bit of activity on AI in Elbit mostly focused on video analytics but also arena and situational understanding.

- Telecommunications (esp. 5G technology)

                This area is covered in our C4I division and I think you will be able to see interesting technologies especially regarding management of large C4I networks.

 

I believe the best location for such a visit should be Netanya and I could ask some of the POC’s from the other divisions to make it there so that we can keep a visit to one location. Anyway I suggest we discuss the best course of action when we meet.

Best regards,

Ron

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Passwell,

 

Greetings from the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University (NDU).  I was provided with your contact information by a colleague of mine, Col Sean O'Brien, USAF, who took a group of students to visit Elbit in Israel last spring.

 

I am writing to you because I teach a different course at Eisenhower--the Cyber Domain/Advanced Computing Industry Study (the 'Cyber IS')--and I am interested in bringing up to 15 students to Israel next spring for an overseas field study experience (approx. dates:  18-24 April 2020, with meetings 19-23 April). 

 

As described in the attached information sheet about my course, our academic program includes engagements with government, industry, and academic leaders, and we would enjoy the opportunity to meet with Elbit.  I am planning to make a preparatory visit to Israel from 26 Oct-1 Nov 2019 to establish initial contacts, gather insights, and discuss options for a future group visit.

 

As discussed in the 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.  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 attached here as a Word document.  The intent is to schedule a similar (but deeper) set of engagements for the students next spring.  For both visits, we have the full support of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and others in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).  Our point of contact at SIBAT is Barry Zebrak Cdr. (Ret.), Regional Director, North America, barry_zebrak@mod.gov.il, T: +972-3-697-6586, C: +972-50-629-1649.

 

I think exposing the students to Elbit would add a great deal of value to our visit—if Elbit develops and produces capabilities closely related to any of the four areas discussed above.

 

Do you think a visit to Elbit would be a good fit for this course, considering our focus areas and objectives?  If so, would someone from Elbit be available to meet with me in Haifa on the morning of Tuesday, October 29th?  Please let me know.

 

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

Cell:  (703) 888-6378