Lt. Col. (Res.) Anat Surkis retired from the Israel Defense Forces after 29 years of service in the Navy, the majority of which she spent in the Naval Intelligence Division. She held a wide range of roles in research, intelligence collection, and field security at Navy Headquarters and the Haifa Naval Base — often serving as the first woman to hold those positions.

In her final position, she served as Head of the Naval Intelligence Research Department with the rank of Lt. Colonel, becoming the first woman in the Israeli Navy to attain that rank. She is a graduate of Israel’s National Defense College.

Anat has an extensive background in multiple facets of the intelligence field. She was responsible for maritime intelligence research across multiple theaters, operational intelligence support for naval units, and commanded and managed hundreds of service members over the years.

She played a central intelligence role in numerous sensitive and complex operations, including:

Operation Noah's Ark, which intercepted the Karine A weapons ship,

Operation Full Disclosure, during which the Klos-C ship was seized,

Operation Protective Edge,
and many others that remain classified.

Anat was also deeply involved in technological-intelligence initiatives and maintained broad collaborative ties with Israel’s intelligence community and international counterparts.

Since her military retirement, Anat has engaged in various professional activities: She was a Research Fellow at the Maritime Policy & Strategy Research Center at the University of Haifa. She lectures on maritime strategy at institutions such as Bar-Ilan University and the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.

She mentors senior executives through programs such as Ment-Orand Forum Dvorah, and is actively involved in multiple nonprofit organizations — including serving on the board of the National Defense College Alumni Association.

Anat is also a judge for Rotarycompetitions and conducts lectures and workshops focused on empowerment, especially for women and youth.

She holds: A Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Education

Two Master’s degrees: in Educational Administration and in Political Science

A certification in corporate governance (trained as a board director)