David Barnea, the former head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, has transitioned into the private defense technology sector following his retirement in June. Barnea was appointed as the global president and chairman of Ondas, an American defense technology firm actively pursuing acquisitions, including several Israeli companies. This move marks a notable example of senior Israeli defense figures entering the rapidly expanding defense tech market.

Barnea served as Mossad chief during the critical period of October 7, 2023, but he is not considered directly responsible for intelligence failures on that day, partly because the Gaza Strip was outside his operational remit. However, he was involved in prior Mossad operations, including targeted assassinations of senior terrorist figures and efforts against Hezbollah and Iran. Ondas highlighted Barnea’s leadership during a time of significant technological transformation within Mossad, emphasizing his role in advancing cooperation among Ondas’ various tech companies.

Ondas has stated that Barnea’s appointment complies with Israel’s mandatory cooling-off period for former public officials. Efraim Halevy, a former Mossad director who worked briefly with Barnea, described the move as natural and appropriate, noting Barnea's reputation for trustworthiness and discretion. Barnea’s new salary has not been disclosed but is expected to exceed his public sector earnings.

Barnea’s transition is part of a broader trend in which retired senior Israeli defense officials have joined the private sector, particularly in defense technology startups and investment firms. Many who held prominent roles during or before the October 7 events are now advising or investing in companies that develop cutting-edge military technologies. For instance, former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar serves as an advisor to startups, while former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is involved in helping Israeli firms and American investors navigate the international defense market.

Other notable figures include Avi Gil, military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 7, who co-founded an investment fund with former special forces commander Yonatan Rom to support defense tech startups. Yossi Sariel, former commander of the elite IDF Unit 8200, entered the artificial intelligence sector through Decart, a company founded by his former subordinates. The planned sale of Decart to American firm Anthropic for $6 billion was recently canceled.

The influx of military and intelligence veterans into the defense tech sector coincides with a surge in global defense budgets and investments. According to financial data, investment in defense technology startups worldwide increased from $7 billion annually a decade ago to $41 billion within the first half of 2026. Defense budgets have also grown sharply, rising from $1.65 trillion in 2016 to $2.65 trillion in 2024, according to the World Bank.

High-ranking officers who retired prior to recent conflicts have also entered the venture capital domain. For example, former IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi joined the Canadian-Israeli venture capital firm AWZ in late 2024, focusing on dual-use deep technology. Former Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman became a strategic adviser at Cognite Software, and former Israeli Air Force officials Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin and Brig. Gen. Shimon Tentsiper joined private equity firm Key 1 Capital, investing heavily in startups.

Norkin is also linked to Anduril Industries, a U.S.-owned leading defense tech company, where he is expected to head its Israeli branch. Maj. Gen. Tal Kelman, who previously led the IDF’s Strategy and Iran Directorate, now serves as head of strategy at Protego Ventures, another defense-focused venture capital fund. Additional veterans such as Maj. Gen. Amir Kunik, Maj. Gen. Saar Tzur, and Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel have similarly aligned themselves with venture capital and investment groups in the sector.

The involvement of former intelligence chiefs in private business extends further back. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen joined the Japanese investment fund SoftBank five years ago, a move some attribute to his intelligence background. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak co-founded the cybersecurity company Toka in 2018, which specializes in remote surveillance and penetration technologies.

Other former Mossad and Shin Bet directors have launched or sold cybersecurity firms in recent years. Tamir Pardo, former Mossad director, established a company with other senior officials that sold for $600 million in 2021. Yuval Diskin, former Shin Bet chief, co-founded Cymotive, a cybersecurity firm acquired in 2023 for up to $120 million.

The pattern of senior Israeli defense and intelligence officials migrating to the private sector is longstanding. Research indicates that between 2007 and 2015, about 60 percent of Israeli public companies employed at least one former senior civil servant, with a significant share coming from the security sector. This trend is intensifying amid escalating defense needs driven by ongoing regional conflicts and global geopolitical tensions, further blurring the lines between military service and the defense industry’s commercial landscape.