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
Ukrainians training on Abrams tanks at US base in Germany look to be battle-ready in weeks
Mark F. Cancian in Stars and Stripes — July 17, 2023
U.S. Cluster Munitions Arrive in Ukraine, but Impact on Battlefield Remains Unclear
Mark F. Cancian in The New York Times — July 14, 2023
Ukraine receives cluster munitions from the US
Mark F. Cancian in Fox News — July 13, 2023
Ukraine may be close to surpassing Russia in active tank numbers, but Russia has a near endless supply of Soviet tanks in storage, military experts say
Mark F. Cancian in Business Insider — July 13, 2023
前進?遅滞?/反転攻勢1か月…ロシア内部の“破壊部隊”も【7月10日(月)#報道1930】
Mark F. Cancian in TBS NEWS DIG — July 11, 2023
Tuberville Blockade Over Abortion Policy Threatens Top Military Promotions
Mark F. Cancian in The New York Times — July 10, 2023
How can Ukraine make greater progress against well-fortified Russian positions? | DW News
Mark F. Cancian in DW News — July 10, 2023
Cluster bombs not a 'game changing' weapon: analyst
Mark F. Cancian in Reuters — July 8, 2023
All Mark F. Cancian Content
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Cluster Munitions: What Are They, and Why Is the United States Sending Them to Ukraine?
Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian — July 10, 2023
"Repel, Don’t Expel": Audio Brief with Mark Cancian
Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian — July 7, 2023
Report Launch: "Repel, Don't Expel": Strengthening NATO's Defense and Deterrence in the Baltic States
Event by Mark F. Cancian , Max Bergmann , Sean Monaghan , Michael C. Ryan , and Rebeccah L. Heinrichs — July 6, 2023
"Repel, Don’t Expel"
Report by Mark F. Cancian and Sean Monaghan — July 6, 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
Inside DOD’s FY 2024 Budget
Military Forces and Acquisition Programs: How Did They Fare in the FY 2024 Budget?
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — March 17, 2023
What’s the Future for Aid to Ukraine?
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — February 21, 2023
Aid to Ukraine: Much More Than Tanks
Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — February 2, 2023