Dr. Igor Alekseevich Khripunov

Born on May 26, 1946, in Moscow, Russia, Dr. Khripunov became a distinguished scholar and diplomat whose career bridged nations and advanced global peace. A graduate of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Languages in 1970 and the Moscow Diplomatic Academy in 1983, he served with distinction in the United Nations Secretariat in New York and later in the Soviet Foreign Ministry during the era of U.S.–Soviet détente. Dr. Khripunov played a vital role in numerous nuclear arms control and disarmament negotiations, making lasting contributions to international security and U.S.–Soviet relations.

Following his diplomatic service, which included an assignment at the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C., Dr. Khripunov retired from government work in 1992 and joined the University of Georgia’s Center for East–West Trade Policy. Over the next several decades, he dedicated himself to teaching, mentoring, and scholarship, helping bring both the University and the State of Georgia to the international stage. At UGA, he served in several capacities, including Adjunct Professor, Director of the Center for International Trade and Security, and founding Editor-in-Chief of the 1540 Compass, a journal produced in cooperation with the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs.

Dr. Khripunov was deeply engaged in work with the International Atomic Energy Agency and is widely regarded as a founding figure in the field of nuclear security culture, specifically the subject of the human factor in nuclear security. His research and writing profoundly influenced how the world approaches nuclear safety today. He is also a recent recipient of a prestigious Vincent J. Devito Distinguished Service Award from the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management.

He retired from the University of Georgia in 2018.

In his personal life he was a loving husband and father with a unique sense of humor and contagious optimism. He cherished lifelong friendships and talented colleagues, had an impeccable work ethic, insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a drive to excel in everything he did.

Dr. Khripunov is survived by his loving wife, Irina; daughters, Ekaterina (with husband Wilhelm) and Darya; and grandsons, Alexander and Maximilian.