Computer Service Directorate Explained

Unit Name:	Computer Service Directorate
Native Name:	אגף התקשוב וההגנה בסביבת רשת
Dates:	2003–present
Commander1:	Aluf Eran Niv
Identification Symbol Label:	Flag

The Israeli Computer and IT Directorate (Hebrew: אגף התקשוב וההגנה בסביבת רשת, Agaf Ha-Tikshuv VeHaHagana BiSvivat Reshet) is the Israel Defense Forces body which charts the communication, wireless transmission, computerization, command and control over and defense of military and intelligence information in the IDF. The Directorate was created on March 3, 2003, on the basis of some functions previously held by the C4I Corps. The Directorate is also responsible for Cyber Defense in the IDF, a fact which has led to the name of the Directorate being changed to "Computer and IT Directorate" in May 2017.

Units

The Computer and IT Directorate comprises four main brigade-level units: the C4I Corps, the Operating Brigade (Hativat HaHaf'ala), which deals with operational communications and electronic warfare, the Cyberspace Defense (Hativat HaHagana Be'Saib'er), which is responsible for the telecommunications of internal IDF networks,^[1] and the Lotem Unit (לוטם), an abbreviation for Unit for Telecommunications and Information Technology).

Lotem lists the following units:

• (שחר) - A software house that develops advanced software solutions and organizational systems for the management and combat support of the IDF.^[2]
• Mamram (ממר"ם) – Center of Computers and Information Systems – Responsible for managing military software and computer infrastructure.
• (חושן) – Responsible for operating the army's communication systems.
• (מעו"ף) – Systems and Projects – responsible for planning and engineering telecommunication systems.
• (מצפ"ן) – Military Systems for Command and Control and management of logistics and human resources. The army's biggest software house that consists of the unification of Leshem (לשם) and Shoham (שהם) units.
• (בסמ"ח) – The "IDF School of Computer Science," also known as "Basmach," is a program within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that provides advanced training and education in computer science and related fields to soldiers who have been identified as having exceptional talent in these areas.^[3]

Commanders

• Aluf Yitzhak Harel (March 30, 2003 – December 20, 2003)
• Aluf Udi Shani (December 21, 2003 – November 12, 2006)
• Aluf Ami Shafran (November 13, 2006 – October 24, 2011)
• Aluf (October 24, 2011 – March 28, 2016)
• Aluf Nadav Padan (June 13, 2016 – February 4, 2018)
• Aluf Lior Carmeli (February 4, 2018 - January 19, 2022)
• Aluf Eran Niv (January 19, 2022 -)

Notes and References

1. Web site: הכירו את חטיבת ההגנה בסייבר . IDF.
2. Web site: 2022-04-17 . Meet the IDF unit bringing Israel's army into the digital age . 2024-07-13 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en.
3. Web site: Frantzman . Seth . 2022-11-29 . How Israel is preparing the next generation of cyber soldiers . 2024-07-13 . Defense News . en.