Isaac Ashkenazi

Isaac Ashkenazi is an Israeli physician, life saver, disaster management specialist, ophthalmic surgeon, professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a colonel in the HFC of the Israel Defense Forces. Ashkenazi is considered a world expert in disaster management, emergency preparedness, crisis leadership, and humanitarian response.

Early life and education

Ashkenazi was born in Israel in 1957. He earned his medical degree from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1982, graduating with highest distinction. His doctoral dissertation examined the physiological effects of extended physical exertion in soldiers, titled "The Influence of a Continuous 110 km March with a 20 kg Backpack Load on Renal Function and Other Laboratory Parameters in Healthy Young Soldiers."
Ashkenazi completed his specialization in ophthalmology at Sheba Medical Center between 1987-1991 and received a Master of Science in Ophthalmology from Tel Aviv University with highest distinction, where his thesis focused on monitoring of intraocular pressure, titled "Direct Intraoperative Continuous Monitoring of Intra-Ocular Pressure During Extra-Ocular Manipulations and Intraocular Surgery."
Ashkenazi later earned a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, focusing on disaster management and leadership, and a Master of Social Science from Haifa University. He also completed studies at the National Security College (Israel).

Military career

Ashkenazi served in the IDF in various senior medical positions:

Military doctor in the Paratroopers and Commando Forces.
Medical researcher at the military physiology unit, Heller Institute, Sheba Medical Center.
Head of Laser Safety and Military Optronics.
Head of Medical Services in the West Bank.
Head of IDF Public Health Department, as a lieutenant colonel.
Surgeon General of the Home Front Command, as a colonel.
Commander of the Medical Services and Supply Center of the Medical Corps.
Head of the National Scientific Committee of the Home Front Command.

Academic career

Ashkenazi has served as a professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev since 2008. He is also the founder and chair of at the College of Law and Business in Ramat Gan.
He has held visiting academic roles, including:

Director of the Urban Terrorism Preparedness Program at Harvard University.
Faculty member of the at Harvard University.
Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Emory University.
Adjunct Professor of Disaster Management at the University of Georgia.

Ashkenazi has published over 200 scientific articles on disaster management, medical preparedness for emergencies, response to terrorist attacks, and crisis leadership. He has lectured as an expert on six continents.

Scientific contributions and theories

The Five Dimensions of Leadership Model (1987)

Ashkenazi developed a theoretical framework for crisis leadership addressing five interconnected dimensions:

Leading self
Leading the situation
Leading down
Leading across
Leading up

This model is widely used in leadership training programs for disaster management professionals worldwide.

The Three Brains Theory

Ashkenazi’s “Three Brains” model categorizes brain behavior during crises into:

Upper brain: creative and innovative thinking
Middle brain: routine operations and memory storage
Lower brain : primitive survival functions

The theory suggests that during crises, people "fall into the mental basement", impairing their ability for rational and creative thinking. This understanding provides a basis for developing effective methods for leaders to function in emergency and high-stress situations.

The "Immediate Responders" concept

Ashkenazi was first to identify and define the crucial role of bystanders in saving lives during disaster events. This concept distinguishes between "Immediate Responders" - ordinary citizens present at the scene, and "First Responders" - official emergency personnel who arrive later.
His work in this area has fundamentally changed how civilian populations are incorporated in disaster preparedness planning worldwide.

Humanitarian missions

Ashkenazi has led and managed numerous international humanitarian aid missions:

Head of the Israeli Medical Delegation assisting after the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi.
Head of the Israeli Medical Delegation assisting earthquake victims in Turkey.
Head of the Israeli Medical Delegation assisting earthquake victims in Greece.
Partnered medical teams in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand.
Lead scientific team to investigate the public response during 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Participated in humanitarian missions to Rwanda.
Participated in the Israeli-Jordanian humanitarian delegation during the Bosnian Civil War.
Participated in the rescue operations of Ethiopian Jews.
Participated in smuggling Ethiopian Jews through Sudan.

Consulting work

Ashkenazi serves as a senior consultant in disaster management and emergency preparedness to multiple governments and agencies worldwide:

CEO and Chair of .
Commander of, a disaster and terrorism response Unit.
Consultant to American federal entities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health & Human Services, White House and the World Bank.
Consultant to the Brazilian Ministry of Defense.
Consultant for crisis preparedness at the Rio Olympics.
Consultant to the Chinese Ministry of Health.
Consultant to various governments including Israel, the US, Brazil, Spain, India, etc.

Awards and recognition

Ashkenazi has received numerous awards and honors for his humanitarian and professional activities, including:

Presidential medals of honor for humanitarian assistance from several countries, including Turkey, Greece, and Rwanda.
Honor from the president of Kenya for exceptional humanitarian assistance.
Honor from the Israeli Government for medical assistance in Operation Moses and Operation Solomon.
Honors from the Brazilian Ministry of Defense
Honor from the White House, FEMA, and US Department of Homeland Security
Honor from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Gold medal for distinction from the IDF Officers School

Personal life

Ashkenazi is married to Rachel and has three children: Rotem, Dor, and Maor, and three grandchildren: Or, Guy, and Noam. He speaks Hebrew, English, and Spanish fluently.

Selected publications

Ashkenazi, I.. "Preparedness and Response to a Mass Casualty Event Resulting from Terrorist Use of Explosives." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Marcus, L.J., Ashkenazi, I., Dorn, B., & Henderson, J.. "Meta-leadership: Expanding the scope and scale of public health." Leadership in Public Health, 8.
Ashkenazi, I., McNulty, E., Marcus, L., Dorn, B.C.. "The Role of Bystanders in Mass Casualty Events: Lessons from the 2010 Haiti Earthquake." Journal of Defense Studies & Resource Management.
Ashkenazi, I., Hunt, R.. "You're It—You've Got to Save Someone: Immediate Responders, Not Bystanders." Frontiers in Public Health, 7.
Rapaport, C., Ashkenazi, I.. "Why Does Israel Lead the World in COVID-19 Vaccinations? Applying Mass Casualty Event Principles to COVID-19 Vaccination Programs." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 5362.