Analyst Profile

Mark Kagan

Research Manager

As Research Manager, Mark is responsible for the development of innovative research in government acquisition and risk management. He has extensive experience in government sector procurement, risk management, innovative service-level agreements, performance-based and outcome-based contracting, performance awards/penalties, and program management implementation. Mark's research at Government Insights covers all government agencies and vendors who serve them, with special emphasis on defense, intelligence, security (cyber and physical), and homeland security. He also focuses on how 'cultural' factors facilitate or hinder change, the adoption of new technologies and processes, and subsequent impact on risk analysis and risk management.

Prior to joining Government Insights, Mark was a Principal Consultant at Federal Sources, Inc., where he assisted clients in understanding government budgetary and technology priorities, trends, challenges, and market sizing. While covering the entire range of government and contractor activities, he focused particularly on defense, intelligence, and security issues. He has also worked as a Military Analyst and Editor at the Washington, D.C. office of Jane's Information Group, where he specialized in covering technologies and markets in the areas of ordnance, military vehicles, engineering equipment, small arms, and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare. Previously he worked at the International Strategic Studies Association, where he wrote articles and special studies for its publications and databases on defense, foreign affairs, terrorism, and the Middle East.

Mark's journalism background includes tenures as Business Editor at Signal magazine, published by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA); Managing Editor at Kerrigan Media International (KMI), which publishes Military Information Technology, Military Training Technology, and Military Medical Technology magazines; and Senior Staff Editor for the Washington News Bureau, which specialized in coverage and analysis of the information technology and telecommunications industries and markets. His articles have also appeared in such publications as Defense News, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily, MidEast Markets, and National Security Quarterly.

Mark began his professional career as an Intelligence Analyst at the National Security Agency (NSA), where he also taught courses on the Middle East and Arabic at the NSA National Cryptologic School. He subsequently worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a Military Economist, where he tracked international arms transfers and military technologies.

Mark, who speaks Arabic and Hebrew, holds a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, and an M.A. in International Affairs and Middle East studies from Columbia University, New York. He also studied at Alexandria University in Egypt, and at Haifa University and Hebrew University in Israel.

Research Authored by Mark Kagan