Vladimir YankovNuclear projects · Emerging technologies · Security
Head of Project Administration
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant · Bulgaria
Current appointment · October 2026 — Present
Leadership in nuclear project administration across new capacity, small modular reactors and decommissioning, supported by extensive operational and management experience in nuclear security.
01 / Leadership responsibilities
Project administration at Kozloduy NPP spans new nuclear capacity, small modular reactors and decommissioning. The management remit includes the organisation of project activities, coordination of specialist input and oversight of project documentation.
Administration and coordination of projects for new nuclear power capacity. The emphasis is on organising the work of participating teams, maintaining project documentation and tracking activities so that decisions and subsequent stages are based on consistent information.
Project administration for small modular reactors (SMRs), complemented by physical protection expertise. The scope connects the coordination of preparatory activities and specialist input with the consideration of protection needs at the early stages of project development.
Project administration for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities encompasses the coordination of interdependent activities, tracking of tasks and schedules, and maintenance of documentation. These responsibilities support continuity through the successive stages of the facility lifecycle.
02 / International consultancy
Physical Protection Consultant
2024 — Present
Specialist discipline
Physical protection of nuclear facilities
Current project · Egypt
Physical protection consultancy to Worley since 2024, with a current assignment on the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project in Egypt.
Specialist support draws on experience in physical protection systems, security management and the practical coordination of protection measures at an operating nuclear facility.
03 / Professional experience
Professional experience combines military intelligence, nuclear security and the management of specialist teams. Career development at Kozloduy NPP since 2011 spans specialist roles in physical protection and analysis, followed by leadership of nuclear security and, subsequently, the Security Division.
This operational and management foundation supports the current responsibilities in nuclear project administration at Kozloduy NPP and physical protection consultancy to Worley for the El-Dabaa NPP project in Egypt.
Academic foundation
National Military Academy, Bulgaria · 1996–2001
International operational experience
Liaison and Observation Officer · 2006–2007
Team Leader · 2008–2009 and 2010
Oct 2026 — Present
2025 — Sep 2026
2020 — 2025
2013 — 2020
2012 — 2013
2011 — 2012
2007 — 2011
2001 — 2007
04 / Expertise and international contribution
The expertise spans emerging nuclear technologies, practical physical protection, security culture and the assessment of evolving security challenges.
“A false sense of security is worse than no security at all”
Physical protection expertise supports the development of small modular reactors, with attention to project-specific protection concepts and the integration of security considerations from the outset. This approach connects project administration with practical knowledge of nuclear facility protection.
Military training in radar reconnaissance and electronic warfare provides a foundation for direct experience in commissioning two different types of counter-UAS systems at Kozloduy NPP. This operational perspective informs specialist exchanges and expert consultations with Sandia National Laboratories, WINS and the IAEA.
Experience includes team leadership for the first three nuclear security culture self-assessments at Kozloduy NPP and management oversight of the fourth cycle in 2025. Related publications further develop the methodology and practical value of security culture assessment.
Lecturing at IAEA seminars and expert participation in technical and consultancy meetings across five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. These engagements bring operating experience into international exchanges on nuclear security practice.
Contributions to IAEA teaching materials, senior management awareness training and leadership development for nuclear security are grounded in experience in operational responsibilities and security management.
Selected contributions of operational experience to technical discussions on uncrewed systems and their implications for nuclear security.
Specialist training covers physical protection, insider threats, nuclear material accountancy and control, security culture and cybersecurity in management systems. These disciplines support an integrated approach to the protection of nuclear facilities.
05 / Publications and methodology
The publications examine how security culture can be assessed and strengthened in nuclear and corporate environments. The emphasis is on practical methodologies, management responsibility and the value of self-assessment.
2023
Annual of Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen · Faculty of Technical Sciences, Vol. XII E
2021
Journal Scientific and Applied Research, 21(1), pp. 36–39 · DOI 10.46687/jsar.v21i1.317
2021
Annual of Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, Vol. XI E, pp. 252–255 · ISSN 1311-834X
2020
MATTEX 2020, Vol. 2, pp. 161–164 · ISSN 1314-3921
2019
Proceedings of the Annual University Scientific Conference, pp. 1202–1216 · ISSN 2367-7481
2016
With Paul Ebel and Igor Khripunov
Issue 10
2013
Co-author · General Directorate National Police, Sofia
06 / Professional contact
For professional enquiries, expert discussions and cooperation in nuclear project development and security.
Send an enquiryKozloduy Nuclear Power Plant
Project Administration
3321 Kozloduy, Bulgaria
