Elena K. Sokova

Executive Director
"This is a nice short quote"

Areas of Research

  • Fissile materials security and control
  • International organisations and regimes in non-proliferation and disarmament
  • Nuclear non-proliferation issues in Eurasia
  • Nuclear non-proliferation and international safeguards
  • Non-proliferation and disarmament education and training

Background

Elena K. Sokova is the Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). Her primary research areas are international organisations and regimes in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, fissile materials security and control, nuclear non-proliferation issues in Eurasia, as well as non-proliferation and disarmament education and training. Prior to her post in Vienna, Elena served as Deputy Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she had worked since 1997. Her early career started at the Soviet/Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Elena K. Sokova has authored numerous articles, book chapters, reports, and other publications on non-proliferation and nuclear security. Between 2014 and 2015, she was a member of the Global Agenda Council on Nuclear Security of the World Economic Forum. In 2015, she also chaired a Fissile Material Working Group on ending the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in civilian applications. Elena serves on the Advisory Board of International Youth/Student Pugwash and on the Advisory Board of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium. She also is an International Gender Champion and a Gender Champion in Nuclear Policy.

Education

Elena K. Sokova holds a Master’s degree in International Public Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (2000) and a Law Degree from Moscow State University (1992).

Related Content

Nuclear Security in a Changing World: Exploring Evolving Nuclear Security Risks Associated with the Internet of Things and AI
The VCDNP convened a workshop in October 2025 to explore evolving nuclear security risks associated with the integration of interconnected devices and artificial intelligence systems into nuclear facilities and considered possible policy, regulatory, and technical solutions.
22 October 2025 • 
Fall 2025 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Short Course
The VCDNP hosted its 30th intensive short course on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, training 24 diplomats, officials, and other practitioners representing 23 countries.
14 October 2025 • 
The Next Chapter in PAROS: Taking Action to Protect the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The VCDNP convened officials, diplomats, experts, and space industry in Geneva for a workshop to identify avenues and next steps for space threat reduction, in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).
8 October 2025 • 
Launch of the 2025 Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme
The VCDNP launched the 5th edition of the Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme, an activity of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) established by the VCDNP in 2021 on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC). 
23 September 2025 • 
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