Thomas Mahnken

Thomas Mahnken has held various roles throughout their career that have focused on strategy, policy, and national security. Thomas currently serves as the President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Prior to this, they were a Senior Research Professor at the Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and served as the Jerome E. Levy Chair of Economic Geography and National Security at the U.S. Naval War College. Mahnken has also held positions in government, including as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Additionally, they have served as an editor for The Journal of Strategic Studies and a member of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States. Mahnken has also taught courses on strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College and at Johns Hopkins University.

Thomas Mahnken received their Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and History from the University of Southern California in 1987. In 1989, they earned their Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Thomas went on to complete their Ph.D. in International Affairs from the same institution from 1992 to 1997.