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
How the US military plans to construct a pier and get food into Gaza
Mark F. Cancian in BBC — March 13, 2024
America’s Defense spending dragged into budget chaos
Mark F. Cancian in The Hill — March 11, 2024
The F-22 Has Gone from Rolling Retirement To The USAF’s Top Priority
Mark F. Cancian in Forbes — March 8, 2024
European states gather Soviet-style artillery rounds for Ukraine
Mark F. Cancian in Defense News — February 29, 2024
What We’re Paying for in Ukraine
Mark F. Cancian in The Dispatch — February 24, 2024
The GOP could be about to cost Ukraine the war
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — February 14, 2024
Supplier bottlenecks threaten US Navy effort to grow arms stockpiles
Mark F. Cancian in Defense News — February 6, 2024
Short on ammo, Ukrainian artillerymen can't fire on a hunch anymore. They have to know the Russians are there.
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — February 2, 2024
All Mark F. Cancian Content
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Air Supplies to Gaza: Commendable Political Theater but No Long-Term Solution
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — March 7, 2024
The Impact of Ending Military Aid to Ukraine: Gradual Decline, Then Collapse
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — December 19, 2023
Can the United States Equip Israel while Simultaneously Equipping Ukraine and Taiwan?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — October 12, 2023
Reforming the Pentagon's Budgeting System: Can DOD and Congress Strike a Deal?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — August 22, 2023
Aid to Ukraine: The Administration Requests More Money and Faces Political Battles Ahead
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — August 15, 2023
A New Mechanism for an Old Policy: The United States Uses Drawdown Authority to Support Taiwan
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian and Bonny Lin — August 2, 2023
Cluster Munitions: What Are They, and Why Is the United States Sending Them to Ukraine?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — July 10, 2023
Strengthening Baltic Security: Next Steps for NATO
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian, Sean Monaghan, and Daniel Fata — June 27, 2023
Will Russia Control the Skies over Ukraine?
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — April 25, 2023
Military Forces and Acquisition Programs: How Did They Fare in the FY 2024 Budget?
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — March 17, 2023