Israel’s government cabinet voted this week to appoint Buki Carmeli as head of the National Cyber Defense Authority.
Having served for more than 20 years in the IDF’s Unit 8200 as well as in the nation’s security establishment, Carmeli, 53, served most recently as head of the cyber defense security technology unit in the Defense Ministry’s Office of the Director of Security for Defense. He has also been involved in projects developing sensitive defense systems, and has headed a fund dealing with international technology.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Carmeli’s appointment, saying that Carmeli deserved the honor.
He is “deserving, experienced and multi-faceted,” Netanyahu said in his remarks at the meeting. Carmeli “is thoroughly familiar with the cyber field in both its security and civilian aspects.
“While we are indeed cyber leaders, we need to continue to race forward. In this era we must be prepared in advance for national defense and private defense. The threat is very great and proper deployment is vital. All countries look to us in this field. A unified cybernetic alignment is necessary to deal with these threats.”
Israel National Cyber Bureau Director Dr. Eviatar Matania added that the appointment heralded the official start of the authority in the coming months.
“This is a main milestone in implementing the national deployment that was approved by the Cabinet last year,” Matania observed.
“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.”