Susanna V. Blume

Former Senior Fellow and Director, Defense Program

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Susanna Blume is a former Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security. Her research areas included the Defense program and budget, defense posture and force management, and strategy and strategic planning.

Prior to joining CNAS, Ms. Blume served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Plans to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, whom she advised on programming and budget issues, global force management, operational and strategic planning, force posture, and acquisition policy. During this time, she served as Executive Secretary of the Deputy's Management Action Group, the Department's top resource decision making body. She also served in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans and Posture. During her years at DoD, Blume participated in two Quadrennial Defense Reviews, the 2013 Strategic Choices and Management Review, and six Program and Budget Review cycles.

Ms. Blume holds a master's degree in international studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, a law degree from the George Washington University Law School, and a bachelor's degree in the history of art from the Johns Hopkins University.