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Yonatan Kudish

Yonatan Kudish

Head of Platform Development Branch, Israeli Navy
Yonatan Kudish
Mazkeret Batya, Israel | +972529575654 | ykudish@gmail.com
Education
M.A | 2014 | HAIFA UNIVERSITY
· Maritime Civilization Studies - History, archeology & marine science of the Mediterranean Sea
· Graduated Cum-Laude
B.A | 2014 | HAIFA UNIVERSITY
· Major: Economics
· Minor: Multi-disciplinary studies
· Graduated Cum-Laude

Personal Information
Born on May 15, 1983 (male - 39 years old) in Be'er-Sheva, Israel.
Married to Orit (38) – Holocaust researcher at Yad Vashem institute in Jerusalem (M.A. Jewish history).
Father of four – Nadav 11, Yarden 10, Itamar 5 & Carmel 2 years old.

Career & Experience

Israeli navy officer, IDF- Israel Defense Force.
Rank: Commander (Navy)
Experience: 20~ years since recruited in March 2003.
Current position: Head of the Platform Development Branch at the operational division in the Israeli navy HQ.
Responsibilities: I am currently responsible for the operational planning of the future Israeli navy surface fleet & project manager for fleet force-building.
Professional development: Since graduating the naval academy, I held mainly operational positions, including commanding smaller ships and units, and a single position as head instructor at the naval academy. My former position as Commanding officer (captain) of the Israeli Navy Ship 'Hanit', Sa'ar 5 class Corvette, Israel's navy Flagship until March 2022. Head of the Platform Development Branch at the Navy headquarters is an exception, viz., non-operational. I made a fundamental shift from commanding an operational unit to managing a group of experts in a much different field - a desk job. The Platform Development Branch is responsible for developing yearly (and multiyear) plans for the navy surface fleet, including a budget plan.

Former positions:
CO INS 'HANIT' | HAIFA NAVAL BASE | 2019-2022
COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE ISRAELI NAVY FLAGSHIP
Approximately 100 men and women served under my command in the different departments of the ship: machinery, electronics, weaponry, operations, and navigation. In addition, while conducting an operation at sea, many other personnel come aboard under my command, such as helicopter pilots and technical crew, intelligence, cyber experts and medical personnel. It is also my duty to synchronize the ship’s activity with external entities such as maintenance, logistics and navy headquarters.
Awarded no.1 in 2021 Navy readiness tests.
Awarded 1 special Honor medal by the IDF Head of joint forces.
Awarded 2 special Honor medals by Chief of Navy.
HEAD OF PLANNING BRANCH | NAVY HEADQUARTERS | 2017-2019
IN CHARGE OF THE NAVY'S YEARLY WORK PLAN AND BUDGET.
At the time I was Head of Planning Branch, our main project was the development of Israel's defense plan for protecting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Israeli gas in the Mediterranean Sea. Planning the defense for EEZ included building an outlook for naval operations in this area for the next 15-25~ years, analyzing its needs, and formulating a budget (~1 billion Dollar). Furthermore, as Head of Planning Branch I had many responsibilities that required connections with the navy's foreign affairs.
CO 915 SQUADRON| EILAT NAVAL BASE | 2016-2017
IN CHARGE OF THE MARITIME SECURITY OF SOUTHERN ISRAEL
In charge of the maritime security at the Red-Sea Bay (Gulf of Aqaba). Responsible for the defense of the maritime borders with Jordan and Egypt. ~150 personal in 3 different units. Awarded best squadron for 2017 by the chief of the navy.
CO INS 'KESHET' | HAIFA NAVAL BASE | 2014-2016
COMMANDING OFFICER OF AN ANTI SUBMARINE BATTLESHIP
ACADEMIC STUDIES | HAIFA UNIVERSITY | 2011-2014
VIA NAVAL OFFICERS PROGRAM
XO INS 'HEZT' | HAIFA NAVAL BASE | 2009-2010
DEPUTY OFFICER AND INTERN FOR COMMAND
NAVAL ACADEMY INSTRUCTER | NAVAL ACADEMY | 2007-2008
HEAD INSTRUCTER 2008
CO D-830 | ASHDOD NAVAL BASE | 2005-2007
FAST PATROL BOAT COMMANDER
NAVIGATION OFFICER | HAIFA NAVAL BASE | 2004-2005
BRIDGE OFFICER ABOARD THE INS 'HEREV' MISSLE BOAT

NAVAL ACADEMY CADET | NAVAL ACADEMY | 2003-2004
GRADUATED FIRST IN MY CLASS
 
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