2025 Distinguished Alumni

Dr. Stanislava Mladenova -2000

Dr. Stanislava Mladenova is the NATO Operations Division Core Team Lead in Moldova, where she is responsible for NATO’s cooperation with Moldova in strengthening its security forces.

As a practitioner and scholar in her 20 year career, she has held a variety of postings working at the nexus of security and international development.

As a Senior Specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, Mladenova led efforts that examined how climate financing can build security and economic resilience in places affected by conflict and violence.

During her time at the United States Institute of Peace, Mladenova worked in West Africa to establish dialogue between local police forces and communities with the aim to cultivate trust in some of the most vulnerable communities in six West African Countries.

She has served as an Emergency Responder for Operation Allies Welcome of the International Rescue Committee at the US Marine Corps Base Quantico during the Afghan evacuation.

In her capacity as a Political Advisor during her time at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Mladenova worked to reform the Alliance’s processes and structures.

As a NATO Political Advisor in Afghanistan, she was responsible for analysis of economic issues, governance, corruption, disaster management, gender, humanitarian assistance, and preventing the recruitment of child soldiers.

Mladenova’s work has brought her to Africa, Central and South Asia, North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans.

She is a nonresident senior fellow with Atlantic Council in Washington DC, a Global Fellow at Brown University. She has also served as an Irregular Warfare Initiative fellow at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Mladenova is regularly called upon to teach, train and speak on security matters to US government agencies, the irregular warfare community, international organizations (OECD, NATO, and UN agencies), non-governmental organizations, research institutions, professional and executive degree programs in international security and development, and other academic fora.

She holds a Ph.D. in War Studies from King’s College London, and is the author of When Rambo Meets the Red Cross: Civil-Military Engagement in Fragile States (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024). Her research on how US Special Operations Forces engage with populations and humanitarian and development organizations is regularly assigned to academic programs in military and civilian universities.

GET TO KNOW DR. STANISLAVA MLADENOVA – FUN FACTS

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Song: U2– Beautiful Day

Favorite Food and/or restaurant: Bellamy’s—Mayfair, London

First job: Budget Examiner at NY State Division of the Budget

Favorite pastime/hobby: Hiking

Something on your bucket list: Antarctica (to visit the penguins)

Something you do to unwind: Exercise

Favorite place to visit/vacation: Goa for yoga

Favorite quote or words of wisdom: There is only one way to eat an elephant: “one bite at a time.”

Who or what did you want to be when growing up: Urban Architect