
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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Photo: Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
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
Why U.S. is Revealing Location of Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Russia
Mark F. Cancian in Newsweek — February 2, 2023
How arming Ukraine is stretching the US defence industry
Mark F. Cancian and Cynthia Cook in Financial Times — January 31, 2023
Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan: ‘Victory Is Not Enough’
Mark F. Cancian in The Diplomat — January 30, 2023
Tank Deliveries Could Mark Turning Point in War
Mark F. Cancian in Der Spiegel — January 30, 2023
Why the US Is Giving Ukraine a Patriot Air-Defense System
Mark F. Cancian in The Washington Post — January 27, 2023
No Evidence Russia Turning to Taliban for Arms, White House Says
Mark F. Cancian in Voice of America — January 27, 2023
Video Shows Russian Tank Rip Apart Trees With Gunfire in Ukraine Firefight
Mark F. Cancian in Newsweek — January 26, 2023
U.S. and Germany agree to send tanks to Ukraine
Mark F. Cancian in CBS News — January 25, 2023
All content by Mark F. Cancian
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The Future of Marine Corps Capabilities
Event by Mark F. Cancian — October 28, 2015

Amphibious Capabilities & The Asia Pacific
Event by Michael J. Green , Mark F. Cancian , and Kathleen H. Hicks — October 20, 2015
Is the U.S. Navy Too Small?
Report by Mark F. Cancian — September 29, 2015
Is the Navy Too Small?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — September 29, 2015
The Army’s Drawdown Announcement -- Something Old, Something New
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — July 13, 2015
War Funding, Sequestration, and the Budget Impasse
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — June 12, 2015
FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness l Issue 19
Newsletter by Mark F. Cancian , Gregory Sanders , and Sharon Squassoni — May 29, 2015
FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness l Issue 18
Newsletter by Mark F. Cancian , Andrew Philip Hunter , Jaimie Hoskins , and Melissa Dalton — April 29, 2015
Defense Reform Consensus
Newsletter by Mark F. Cancian , Maren Leed , Dov Zakheim , and Kathleen H. Hicks — April 29, 2015
U.S. and Eurasian Security: The Challenges Ahead
