Former Mossad Chief Dedi Barnea Joins Ondes Defense as Global President

Dedi Barnea, the former head of Mossad, has taken on a new role as Global President and Chairman of Ondes Defense. In this position, Barnea will spearhead the company’s international expansion, technological strategy, and integration of its various defense-related subsidiaries. Ondes Defense specializes in four main areas: air defense, intelligence collection systems, precision strike capabilities, and unmanned ground vehicles. The company aims to unify these domains through software and artificial intelligence to develop multidimensional, coordinated defense systems.

Barnea’s responsibilities include supporting Ondes Defense’s global strategy and strengthening relationships with defense clients, technology firms, and strategic partners, focusing on regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. He will also play a key role in the company’s acquisition strategy, evaluating investments and integrating new technologies and companies into Ondes’ defense platform.

Reflecting on the evolving nature of warfare, Barnea emphasized the increasing importance of connecting intelligence, AI, resilient communications, autonomous platforms, and precision capabilities into a single operational environment. He highlighted Ondes Defense’s consolidation of experienced teams and technologies in modern security fields and expressed his commitment to helping the company build an integrated platform capable of rapidly responding to changing government and national security needs.

Barnea brings nearly 30 years of experience in national security, intelligence, operations, and senior management. He led Mossad from 2021 to 2026 during a period marked by multi-theater conflicts, escalating tensions with Iran and Hezbollah, international negotiations, and complex intelligence operations. Under his leadership, Mossad underwent significant organizational and technological transformation, expanding the use of AI, cyber capabilities, advanced communications, and global intelligence cooperation.

Ondes Defense is currently advancing a growth plan that includes acquiring, developing, and integrating technologies in air defense, counter-drone systems, aerial intelligence, autonomous precision strike systems, unmanned ground vehicles, resilient communications, AI-based operational software, border protection, and mine clearance. The company is building a "system of systems" architecture to connect air defense, aerial intelligence, ground robotics, loitering munitions, sensors, communications, and AI command software to support all operational phases from threat detection to autonomous execution.

Before his intelligence career, Barnea served in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the New York Institute of Technology and an MBA in finance from Pace University. He began his career in mergers and acquisitions at an Israeli investment bank before joining public service in 1995.