Mark Cancian

Background and Education

Mark F. Cancian is a Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He received his BA in History from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School. He joined CSIS in April 2015 from the Office of Management and Budget, where he spent seven years as chief of the Force Structure and Investment Division. Previously he served on various weapons acquisition and analysis staffs in the Pentagon, and as assistant staff director of the Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces. During a period out of government he ran research and executive education programs as the Assistant Director, National Security Programs, Kennedy School of Government. He also served 34 years (active and reserve) as an infantry and artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps including service in Iraq (two tours), Desert Storm and the evacuation of Vietnam. He is the author of numerous articles on military strategy, history, weapons acquisition, and force structure.