Mark Cancian (Colonel, USMCR, ret.) is a senior adviser with the CSIS International Security Program. He joined CSIS in April 2015 from the Office of Management and Budget, where he spent more than seven years as chief of the Force Structure and Investment Division, working on issues such as Department of Defense budget strategy, war funding, and procurement programs, as well as nuclear weapons development and nonproliferation activities in the Department of Energy. Previously, he worked on force structure and acquisition issues in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and ran research and executive programs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In the military, Colonel Cancian spent over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, active and reserve, serving as an infantry, artillery, and civil affairs officer and on overseas tours in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Iraq (twice). Since 2000, he has been an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he teaches a course on the connection between policy and analysis. A prolific author, he has published over 40 articles on military operations, acquisition, budgets, and strategy and received numerous writing awards. He graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from Harvard College and with highest honors (Baker scholar) from Harvard Business School.
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Featured
The First Battle of the Next War: Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan
CSIS wargamed a Chinese invasion of Taiwan 24 times and found that Taiwan would endure as a democratic and independent entity in most scenarios. However, the costs were enormous. Victory is not enough. The United States needs to strengthen deterrence to avoid war.
Report by Mark F. Cancian, Matthew Cancian, and Eric Heginbotham — January 9, 2023
In the News
Biden, with France visit, looks to past and future of global conflicts
Mark F. Cancian in Voice of America — June 5, 2024
Biden tip-toes deeper into Ukraine conflict with arms decision
Mark F. Cancian in Reuters — May 31, 2024
Israel could have used smaller weapons against Hamas to avoid deaths in Gaza tent fire, experts say
Mark F. Cancian in AP — May 30, 2024
Ukraine Hits Russian Complex in Occupied Crimea With U.S.-Supplied Missiles
Mark F. Cancian in The Wall Street Journal — May 24, 2024
US jamming technology is significantly worse than Russia's, ex-Pentagon officials warn
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — May 14, 2024
The US Army's new plan to counter Russia and China has a glaring problem, experts say
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — May 11, 2024
Biden's threat to cut off weapons for Israel isn't the same as what got Trump impeached
Mark F. Cancian in Business insider — May 9, 2024
Russia's jamming of American weapons in Ukraine is showing the US what it needs to be ready for in a future fight
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — May 9, 2024
All Mark F. Cancian Content
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The Impossible State Live Podcast: Can South Korea Save Ukraine?
Event — May 13, 2024
What Is in the Ukraine Aid Package, and What Does it Mean for the Future of the War?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — May 1, 2024
What Is in the Ukraine Aid Package, and What Does it Mean for the Future of the War?
Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — May 1, 2024
Can South Korean 105-Millimeter Ammunition Rescue Ukraine?
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — March 22, 2024
Reforming the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Process
Event — March 8, 2024
Air Supplies to Gaza: Commendable Political Theater but No Long-Term Solution
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — March 7, 2024
2024 Global Forecast: Conflict Zones
Digital Report by Mark F. Cancian, Max Bergmann, and Maria Snegovaya, Romina Bandura, Kathleen McInnis, Elizabeth Hoffman, Eliot A. Cohen, Daniel Byman, Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, Emily Harding, Craig Cohen, Alex Kisling — February 2, 2024
Security in the Western Pacific: Building Future Capabilities in the Time of AUKUS
Event — January 12, 2024
Security in the Western Pacific: Building Future Capabilities in the Time of AUKUS
Report by Mark F. Cancian — January 12, 2024
“Security in the Western Pacific: Building Future Capabilities in the Time of AUKUS”: Audio Brief with Mark Cancian
Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian — January 12, 2024