Mark Gunzinger

Mr. Gunzinger served in multiple positions as a strategic planner in the U.S. Department of Defense. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces Transformation and Resources, Mark was the principal author or co-author of multiple Defense Planning Guidance directives, key strategic planning documents that shaped DoD’s future force planning. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Command Pilot, Mark joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2004. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and served as Principal Director of DoD’s central staff for the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review. Following the QDR, he joined the National Security Council Staff, The White House, as the Director for Defense Transformation, Force Planning and Resources. During his Air Force career, Mark was an aircraft commander/instructor pilot with over 3,000 hours in the B-52, served as a strategic planner on the Air Staff, and helped lead multiple assessments of future capability requirements. Mark is now the Director for Future Aerospace Concepts and Capabilities Assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

Mr. Gunzinger holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy degree from the National War College, a Master of Airpower Art and Science degree from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the United States Air Force Academy. He is the recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit Medal.