Sorin Ducaru

Education

Sorin Ducaru graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest in 1988 and from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in 1992. After that, he was an associated lecturer at the SNSPA, in European and International Studies, between 1993-1998.

In 1993, he obtained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil degree) „cum laude” in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam. In 2005 he was awarded a PhD degree in International Economics by the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies on a thesis titled “Political and economic determinations of Romania’s integration in the European Union”.

His education, blending applied electronics and computer studies, on the one hand, and political studies, on the other, has led to his special interest in the developments taking place in both international relations and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) area, at a time of particularly significant opportunities and challenges. Therefore, the perspective he has taken on the nexus between these areas has been multifold, touching on political, legal and security angles.

Diplomatic activity in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

Sorin Ducaru joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993. Over his diplomatic career, he assumed various positions such as member of the Policy Planning team, Senior Advisor to the Minister, Director of the Minister’s Office, MFA Spokesman and Director for NATO and Strategic Issues.

In 2000–2001, Ambassador Ducaru served as Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations, in New York City.

From 2001 to 2006, he served as Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Romania to the United States of America.

Ambassador Ducaru served as the Permanent Representative of Romania to the North Atlantic Council from September 2006 to September 2013. In November 2011, Ambassador Ducaru also became the Dean of the North Atlantic Council, a position he relieved in September 2013 upon the end of his PermRep mandate, when he also delivered his farewell speech in the Council.

Activity at the International Staff of NATO

Sorin Ducaru took over in September 2013 his current position as Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges (ASG ESC). He heads the Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD) of the NATO International Staff (see Structure of NATO) and is responsible with providing support to the North Atlantic Council, with advising the Secretary General of NATO with regard to the evolution of emerging security challenges and their potential impact on NATO’s security. He directs the development of relevant policies and action plans in the areas included in the ESCD portfolio. Ambassador Ducaru is supported in his activities by Jamie Shea, in his capacity as Deputy Assistant Secretary General.

As a member of the Secretary General of NATO’s senior management team, Sorin Ducaru has been contributing to overall NATO policy development and delivery particularly in ESCD areas of responsibility, but also including other strategic issues, beyond his direct managing tasks. He is the Secretary General’s primary advisor on emerging security challenges and related policy, capability and partnership issues.

His responsibilities include the direct management and oversight of the areas of cyber defence, counter-terrorism, energy security, WMD (Weapon of mass destruction) non-proliferation, nuclear policy, economics and security assessments, strategic analysis and the management of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme – an essential cooperation tool of the Alliance with partner countries.

At the same time, Ambassador Ducaru has been overseeing the Alliance’s efforts to promote cooperation with partner nations and with other international organisations, as appropriate, on all aspects of emerging security challenges. Many progresses have been registered during Sorin Ducaru’s tenure as ASG ESC. One of the most dynamic areas is that of cyber defence. Ambassador Ducaru coordinated the design and development of the NATO Enhanced Cyber Policy (and its implementation throughout the NATO bodies), the reflection process that led to linking cyber to NATO’s task of collective defence and further on to the recognition of cyber as an operational domain, alongside land, sea and air domains. All these steps have been addressing the evolving cyber threat landscape. They have involved dealing with the effort to outline a new hybrid warfare context, conceptual approaches towards cyber deterrence, cyber norms and confidence building measures, cooperation and stability in cyber space, capability development, training and exercises.

Also, according to the provisions of the NATO Enhanced Cyber Policy and in his capacity as ASG ESC, Ambassador Ducaru developed NATO’s cyber partnership network with NATO states’ national administrations, with partner nations and partner International Organisations (such as the European Union, the United Nations, the OSCE), as well as with industry and academia.

Academic activity. Publications and public presence

After his graduation of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in 1992, Sorin Ducaru was an associated lecturer at the same academic institution, in European and International Studies, between 1993 and 1998. Further on, he lectured in a visiting capacity, on an occasional basis, both abroad (at the Harvard University, Columbia University, Oxford) and in Romania (SNSPA and the Technical Military Academy of Bucharest), covering mostly cyber defence issues.

Since there is a substantial representation function associated with his appointment as Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, Ambassador Ducaru has been an active public presence, participating in a great many number of international events, with engagements as key speaker to the press or in public fora, contributions to scientific or policy publications, op-eds, radio or TV interviews, and delivering remarks in a large variety of circumstances. He has spoken both in his personal capacity, and representing the Secretary General of NATO in certain circumstances.

On cyber defence issues, Ambassador Ducaru has vigorously presented the Alliance’s perspective on policy issues, on its mandate as well as on NATO’s approach to countering cyber threats. He has presented NATO’s views in European, American, and other contexts,,. In fact, Sorin Ducaru is a regular presence in academic circles and debates in the United States of America, among others at the Atlantic Council where an article entitled “NATO's Man with Many Helmets” described on 3 March 2017 his tenure at NATO.

Of a particular importance have been Ambassador Ducaru’s support for, assisting at and public exposure on the occasion of the NATO cyber exercises,,. A particular focus has been for him the push for building and strengthening NATO’s partnership with the cyber industry, and this was strongly mentioned during his remarks at NATO's successive editions of the annual NATO cyber security symposium NIAS.

As the top-level manager of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, Ambassador Ducaru has directed every aspect of the program and supervised all projects, involving a great variety of partner nations (European, African, Asian) on a large range of topics (telemedicine, UNSCR 1325 etc).

Sorin Ducaru has also been dealing with wider strategic issues, presenting in a wide range of circumstances and formats the Alliance’s positions and considerations in various areas of stringent actuality, such as hybrid warfare, Southern and Eastern tension or crisis points etc.

Personal life

Sorin Ducaru is married to Carmen Ducaru (a graduate of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration) and together have two children: Maria-Teodora and Matei-Nicolae.

Sorin Ducaru speaks English, French and German, in addition to his native Romanian language.

Honours

In the year 2000, Ambassador Sorin Ducaru was awarded by the President of Romania the National Order of Faithful Service in the rank of Commander. This was followed, in 2006, by the “Diplomatic Merit” Order and in 2008 by the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight, also awarded by the President of Romania. In 2003 and 2012, he received the title of “Ambassador of the Year” from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania.