Executive Director
[email protected]
Vienna, Austria
+43 (1) 236-948-201
Background
Elena K. Sokova is currently the Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. She was the Deputy Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (2015-2019). Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (2011-2015). Before the Vienna appointment, she was Assistant Director at CNS and held a number of other research appointments in Monterey. Elena K. Sokova is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Nuclear Security (World Economic Forum) and chair of a working group on the elimination of civil HEU established by the Fissile Material Working Group.
Areas of Research
- Fissile materials security and control
- Trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials
- International organizations and regimes in nonproliferation and disarmament
- Nuclear nonproliferation issues in Eurasia
- Nuclear nonproliferation and international safeguards issues
- Nonproliferation and disarmament education and training
Education
Elena Sokova holds a Master’s degree in International Public Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (2000) and a Law Degree from the Moscow State University (1992).
CNS Work
- Improving the Security of All Nuclear Materials
A report on legal, political, and institutional options to advance international oversight. - CNS senior experts teach nonproliferation to future Chilean diplomats
The week-long course in Santiago is part of a strong and growing relationship between the Chilean Foreign Ministry and CNS. - The Case for Highly Enriched Uranium Free Zones
Regional HEU-free zones would help cement a global norm against civilian HEU use and strengthen nonproliferation and disarmament efforts. - How can we push for tighter security for nuclear weapons?
Despite progress toward improving security for civilian nuclear materials, there is little appetite to open a discussion on developing security guidelines for these dangerous materials and weapons in military programs. - Safeguards and Middle East Issues Signal Contention at the 2014 IAEA General Conference
CNS and VCDNP experts review main issues facing the 2014 IAEA General Conference. - Nuclear Verification Challenges and Opportunities
On 19-20 June 2014, VCDNP and CNS held a diplomatic workshop in Baden, Austria. - IAEA Iraq Inspections: Lessons Learned and Future Implications
Hans Blix and other experts discuss lessons learned from the IAEA inspections in Iraq in the 1990s. - Experts Provide Insights on 2013 International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) General Conference
Experts prepared Fact Sheets on the issues facing member states. - Expert Insights: 2012 International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) General Conference
In the lead up to the 2012 General Conference, CNS and VCDNP have prepared a series of Fact Sheets on the on-going issues facing IAEA member states. - US-Russian Partnership for Advancing a Nuclear Security Agenda
Results of a study on the implementation of sustainable nuclear security measures, constrained by limited expertise and resources.
Bibliography of Recent Publications
- “Understanding Nuclear Weapon Risks: Non-State Actors and Nuclear Weapons,” author of a chapter in UNIDIR study Understanding Nuclear Risks.
- “Improving the Security of All Nuclear Materials,” co-director and co-editor, report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP).
- “How can we push for tighter security for nuclear weapons?” op-ed co-authored with Mark Fitzpatrick, IISS, for the World Economic Forum web site, 2 June 2015.
- “The Case for Highly Enriched Uranium-Free Zones,” NTI Paper, co-authored with Miles Pomper and Andrew Bienjawski, 26 June 2015.
- “UNSCR 1540: Improving Capacity, Communication, and Civil Society Engagement,” 1540 Compass, Issue # 4, 2013.
- “Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education. Recent Developments and the Way Forward,” CTBTO Spectrum, Issue 19, September 2012.
- US-Russian Partnership for Advancing a Nuclear Security Agenda. Recommendations for U.S.-Russian cooperation in strengthening nuclear security in the former Soviet states and Southeast Asia, co-editor and author, June 2012.
