AMIT, the alumni association of Unit 81, the elite technology arm of the IDF Intelligence Corps, has appointed Gali Sheskin as its new chief executive. She takes over from Chen Kamin, who led the organization for the past five years and oversaw its growth into one of the more influential technology networks in Israel's innovation economy.
Sheskin arrives with a background that spans community building, operations, and project development rather than the engineering roots many might expect from a unit-affiliated organization. She most recently served as Community and Customer Success Manager at Venn, following a stint as Project Development Manager at Ignite the Spark and Head of Operations at enSights. For members of the alumni network who now work in sectors ranging from cybersecurity to data infrastructure, that cross-disciplinary experience is increasingly relevant - much as professionals safeguarding sensitive communications might rely on a provider with a verified no-logs policy to ensure their operational data leaves no exploitable trace. Sheskin has also spent years volunteering in renewable energy and climate advocacy, supporting entrepreneurs, both men and women, working to scale sustainability ventures domestically and abroad. a provider with a verified no-logs policy
Why Unit 81's Alumni Network Matters
Unit 81 is less publicly discussed than some other technological branches of Israeli intelligence, but its output speaks for itself. Veterans of the unit have gone on to found or hold senior technical roles in hundreds of startups, several of which have become unicorns or achieved substantial exits. Companies with Unit 81 alumni in leadership include Wiz, Armis, Innoviz, Claroty, Tenzai, and Jazz - names that span cybersecurity, autonomous sensing, and industrial security. AMIT functions as the connective tissue for this community, organizing initiatives that link former service members with capital, mentorship, and each other.
That kind of alumni infrastructure has become a notable feature of Israel's technology sector. Military intelligence units, particularly those focused on signals and cyber capabilities, have historically served as informal training grounds for entrepreneurship, with veterans carrying forward both technical skill and a tolerance for operating under pressure. Associations like AMIT formalize what used to happen organically through personal networks, giving the ecosystem more structure as it scales.
A Leadership Transition With Strategic Stakes
Sheskin's appointment signals a deliberate choice to prioritize community cohesion and business development over narrow technical credentials. In her own remarks, she framed the association's value in terms of its ability to connect people and entrepreneurship rather than simply showcase technological pedigree. That emphasis matters at a moment when Israeli tech faces heightened competition for talent and capital, along with geopolitical pressures that can complicate international partnerships.
Her mandate will likely include expanding AMIT's programming, deepening ties between veteran-led companies, and sustaining the association's role as a bridge between military-trained talent and the civilian innovation economy. Whether she can match the momentum built during Kamin's tenure remains to be seen, but the appointment reflects confidence that operational and community-building expertise, not just technical lineage, will define AMIT's next chapter.
