An Exclusive Evening With the Head of Mossad

David Barnea is the director of Israel’s Mossad.

Before entering the intelligence world, he served as a team leader in Israel’s elite commando forces and later moved to New York, where he earned a master’s degree in finance from Pace University. He subsequently worked in the Israeli financial sector.

In 1995, following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Barnea reconsidered his career path and applied to the Mossad. He joined the agency’s training program and quickly distinguished himself in intelligence operations, particularly in recruiting and managing agents operating in countries hostile to Israel.

Throughout his career, he held a range of operational and leadership positions, earning a reputation among colleagues for his interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships. Barnea became director of the Mossad in 2021. Under his leadership, the agency has continued its intelligence and security operations in support of Israel’s national security, including efforts involving threats from Iran and other regional adversaries. His career reflects an unusual journey from military service and finance to the leadership of one of Israel’s most prominent intelligence organizations.