Dr. Elena Pokalova is a Professor of International Security Studies at the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC. She specializes in security studies with particular expertise in terrorism, counterterrorism, foreign fighters, and strategic competition. Her regional focus includes Russia and former Soviet countries. Dr. Pokalova received her PhD and Master’s degree in political science from Kent State University.
Dr. Pokalova previously served as Chair of the Department of International Security Studies and College Chair for the University Faculty Advisory Council. She also recently established and leads NDU’s elective concentration on Strategic Competition. She is a recipient of the Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
(2025) with Jeff Ratelle, Chechen Combat Units in Ukraine: A Displaced Insurgency, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2025.2584144.
(2023) The Wagner Group in Africa: Russia’s Quasi-State Agent of Influence, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2023.2231642.
(2021) with Tinatin Karosanidze, Neighboring an Insurgency: The Case of Radicalization in Georgia, Central Asian Survey, 40(2): 242-256.
(2020) Georgia’s Experiences with Foreign Fighters: Global Recruitment, Local Roots, Europe-Asia Studies.
(2018) Georgia, Terrorism, and Foreign Fighters, Special Operations Journal, 4(2): 146-168.
(2018) Driving Factors behind Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2018.1427842.
BOOKS
(2019) Returning Islamist Foreign Fighters: Threats and Challenges to the West, Palgrave Macmillan.
(2015) Chechnya’s Terrorist Network: The Evolution of Terrorism in Russia’s North Caucasus, Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
Functional expertise:
Terrorism, counterterrorism, foreign fighters, strategic competition
Regional Expertise:
Russia, Eurasia