Almudena Azcárate Ortega

Dr. Almudena Azcárate Ortega leads Space Law and Regulation work at Secure World Foundation as a Senior Program Analyst. She has a decade of experience working in international law, primarily focused on outer space issues.

Prior to joining SWF, Dr. Azcárate Ortega was the lead Space Security Researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), where she was in charge of leading the design and implementation of the Institute’s research projects and strategies on space issues. She has published widely, briefed UN Member States on the topics of space law and policy, and has presented her research in multiple fora. She has led UNIDIR’s participation in several multilateral processes related to outer space matters. She currently retains an affiliation to UNIDIR as a Fellow.

Dr. Azcárate Ortega is also an Academic Fellow with the Center on National Security at Georgetown University. She is licensed to practice law in Spain, and prior to joining UNIDIR, she worked as a lawyer focused on high-stakes international litigation and arbitration for one of Spain’s top law firms, Uría Menéndez.

Education

Dr. Azcárate Ortega holds a doctorate in Space Security Law from Georgetown University, focused on the distinction between dual-use and dual-purpose space systems. She also holds an LL.M. in National Security Law from the same institution, where she was awarded Georgetown’s Thomas Bradbury Chetwood, S.J. Prize for the most distinguished academic performance in the programme. She holds a dual Masters degree in Legal Practice and Corporate Law from the University of Navarra, Spain, and received her LL.B. from the same institution.