New Head of Israeli Cyber Defense Command Named

Netanyahu Cabinet Approves Buki Carmeli as Head of National Cyber Defense Authority

Jerusalem Post, January 3, 2016

At its weekly meeting today, PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet unanimously approved Buki Carmeli as the the new head of Israel’s NCDA (National Cyber Defense Authority).

“Carmeli is deserving, experienced and multi-faceted,” Netanyahu stated, describing Carmeli as “thoroughly familiar with the cyber field in both its security and civilian aspects.”

“Though we are a leader in cyber, we must continue to run forward,” the Prime Minister added. “During this year, we must make preparations for national and personal security. This threat is very large, and appropriate preparation is critical. Every country looks to us in this field. We must prepare a unified cyber defense in order to deal with these threats.”

At 53, Carmeli has over twenty years of experience under his belt in Unit 8200 (Shmone Matayim), the Israeli intelligence corps unit overseeing the collection of signal intelligence and code decryption. To put things in perspective, FT Magazine.com describes Unit 8200 as ” the equivalent of America’s National Security Agency and the largest single military unit in the Israel Defence Forces.” Most recently, Carmeli served as head of the technological unit in the Defense Ministry Office of the Director of Security for the Defense Establishment. Carmeli has also spearheaded a fund involved in dealing international technology funds, and has been involved in field of defense initiatives for sensitive systems as well.

“Appointing a head of the national cyber defense authority indicates the start of its activity in the coming months,” head of Israel’s National Cyber Bureau Dr. Eviatar Matania sad.

“This is a main milestone in implementing the national deployment that was approved by the Cabinet last year in the face of the growing threats in the cyber field. I have no doubt that Buki Carmeli’s rich experience in both the security establishment and the private sector, especially in the cyber defense field, will allow him to establish the authority over time as a technological-operative leader on a global level.”