Christopher Bassler

Dr. Chris Bassler is Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), where he researches technology & innovation, joint aerospace capabilities, maritime operating concepts, and overall U.S. & allied military strategies. He joined CSBA in 2020, after previously serving nearly two decades as a civilian in the U.S. Department of Defense in various assignments as an engineer, scientist, designer, and strategist. His last assignment was as the inaugural Chief Strategy Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office; and prior to that, various assignments at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, the Office of Naval Research, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. He has worked in various capacities to enhance capabilities and interoperability across all missions and warfighting domains, including with allies/partners on five different continents, and in NATO.

He has received two Department of Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards from the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Research and holds has two U.S. Patents.

Dr. Bassler has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, M.S. in Ocean Engineering, and B.S. in Ocean Engineering (with dual major in Aerospace Engineering) from Virginia Tech. He also has a M.A. in Security Policy Studies and Graduate Certificate in Asian Studies from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs; a Graduate Certificate in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School; and a Diploma in Strategy & Innovation from the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.