Military Wiki
Advertisement

Jim Mattis
James Mattis Official SECDEF Photo
26th United States Secretary of Defense
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2017
President Donald Trump
Deputy
Preceded by Ash Carter
Commander of United States Central Command

In office
August 11, 2010 – March 22, 2013
President Barack Obama
Preceded by David Petraeus
Succeeded by Lloyd Austin
Commander of the United States Joint Forces Command

In office
November 9, 2007 – August 11, 2010
President
Preceded by Lance L. Smith
Succeeded by Raymond T. Odierno
Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

In office
November 9, 2007 – September 8, 2009
Deputy Luciano Zappata
Preceded by Lance L. Smith
Succeeded by Stéphane Abrial
Personal details
Born James Norman Mattis
September 8, 1950(1950-09-08) (age 73)
Pullman, Washington, U.S.
Military service
Nickname(s)
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States
Service/branch Flag of the United States United States Marines
Years of service 1969–2013
Rank US Marine 10 shoulderboard General
Commands
Battles/wars

James Norman Mattis (born September 8, 1950) is the current and 26th United States Secretary of Defense and former United States Marine Corps general who served as 11th Commander of United States Central Command during the Presidency of Barack Obama.[3]

Mattis commanded the United States Joint Forces Command and concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from November 2007 to August 2010, prior to replacing General David Petraeus as Commander of United States Central Command. During the Iraq War, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Forces Central Command, and 1st Marine Division.[4]

On January 20, 2017, Mattis was confirmed as Secretary of Defense 98–1 by the United States Senate on a waiver,[5] as he had only been three years out of active duty despite U.S. federal law requiring at least seven years of retirement for former military personnel to be appointed Secretary of Defense. He was the first Cabinet member to be confirmed by the Senate and first confirmed member of the Cabinet of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was the only United States Senator to oppose his appointment as Secretary of Defense.

As Secretary of Defense, Mattis has affirmed the United States' commitment to defending longtime ally South Korea in the wake of the North Korea crisis.[6][7] An opponent of proposed collaboration with Russia on military matters,[8] Mattis has consistently stressed Russia's threat to the world order.[9] Mattis has occasionally voiced his disagreement with certain Trump administration policies, opposing the proposed withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal,[10] and has criticized budget cuts that hamper the ability to monitor the impacts of climate change.[11][12]

Early life[]

Mattis was born on September 8, 1950, in Pullman, Washington.[13] He is the son of Lucille (Proulx) Mattis[14] and John West Mattis (1915–1988),[15][16] a merchant mariner. His mother immigrated to the United States from Canada as an infant and had worked in Army Intelligence in South Africa during the Second World War.[17] Mattis's father moved to Richland, Washington, to work at a plant supplying fissile material to the Manhattan Project.[18] Mattis was raised in a bookish household that did not own a television.[18] He graduated from Columbia High School in 1968.[18][19] He earned a B.A. degree in history from Central Washington University in 1971.[20][21][22] He earned an M.A. degree in international security affairs from the National War College of National Defense University in 1994.[23]

Military career[]

Mattis enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1969.[24] He was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps on January 1, 1972.[25] During his service years, Mattis was considered an intellectual among the upper ranks.[26] Robert H. Scales, a retired United States Army major general, described him as "... one of the most urbane and polished men I have known." Reinforcing this intellectual persona was the fact he carried a copy of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius throughout his deployments.[26]

As a lieutenant, Mattis served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he was assigned as the Naval Academy Preparatory School's Battalion Officer, commanded Rifle and Weapons Companies in the 1st Marine Regiment, then Recruiting Station Portland, Oregon, as a major.[27]

Mattis is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He is noted for his interest in the study of military history and world history,[28][29] with a personal library that once included over 7,000 volumes,[1] and a penchant for publishing required reading lists for Marines under his command.[30][31] He is known for the intellectual rigor he instills in his Marines, risk management, and requiring his Marines to be well-read in the culture and history of regions where they are deployed. Before deploying to Iraq, Mattis had his Marines undergo cultural sensitivity training.[29]

Persian Gulf War[]

Upon promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel, Mattis commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions during the Persian Gulf War.[32]

War in Afghanistan[]

As a colonel, Mattis commanded the 7th Marine Regiment. He led the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade as its commanding officer upon promotion to brigadier general.[33] It was as a regimental commander he earned his nickname and call sign, "CHAOS", an acronym for "Colonel Has Another Outstanding Solution", which was initially somewhat tongue-in-cheek.[34]

During the initial planning for the War in Afghanistan, Mattis led Task Force 58 in operations in the southern part of the country beginning in November 2001,[35] becoming the first Marine Corps officer to command a Naval Task Force in combat.[25] According to Mattis, his objective upon arriving in Afghanistan was "make sure that the enemy didn't feel like they had any safe haven, to destroy their sense of security in southern Afghanistan, to isolate Kandahar from its lines of communication, and to move against Kandahar."[36] In December 2001, an airstrike carried out by a B-52 bomber inadvertently targeted a position held by U.S. special operations troops and Afghan militiamen in Urozgan Province. Numerous men were wounded in the incident, but Mattis repeatedly refused to dispatch helicopters from the nearby Camp Rhino to recover them, citing operational safety concerns. This prompted an Air Force helicopter to fly from Uzbekistan to ferry the men to the Marine Corps base where helicopters sat readily available but unauthorized to fly. Then-Captain Jason Amerine cited the delay caused by Mattis's refusal to order a rescue operation as having resulted in the deaths of several men. Amerine wrote, "Every element in Afghanistan tried to help us except the closest friendly unit, commanded by Mattis."[37][38] This episode was used against Mattis after he was nominated for Defense Secretary in 2016.[39]

While serving in Afghanistan as a brigadier general, Mattis was known as an officer who engaged his men with "real leadership". A young Marine officer, Nathaniel Fick, said he witnessed Mattis in a fighting hole talking with a sergeant and lance corporal: "No one would have questioned Mattis if he'd slept eight hours each night in a private room, to be woken each morning by an aide who ironed his uniforms and heated his MREs. But there he was, in the middle of a freezing night, out on the lines with his Marines."[40]

Iraq War[]

Genmattisltr

Letter written by Mattis on the eve of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, addressed to members of the 1st Marine Division

As a major general, Mattis commanded the 1st Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent stability operations during the Iraq War.[28]

Mattis played key roles in combat operations in Fallujah, including negotiation with the insurgent command inside the city during Operation Vigilant Resolve in April 2004, as well as participation in planning of the subsequent Operation Phantom Fury in November.[41]

In May 2004, Mattis ordered the 3:00 a.m. bombing of a suspected enemy safe house near the Syrian border, which later came to be known as the Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre and resulted in the deaths of 42 civilians. Mattis said it had taken him 30 seconds to decide whether to bomb the location. Describing the wedding as implausible, he said, "How many people go to the middle of the desert to hold a wedding 80 miles (130km) from the nearest civilization? These were more than two dozen military-age males. Let's not be naive."[42] The Associated Press obtained video footage appearing to show a wedding party, but the occurrence of a wedding was disputed by military officials.[43]

Following a Department of Defense survey that showed only 55% of U.S. soldiers and 40% of Marines would report a colleague for abusing civilians, Mattis told Marines in May 2007 that "whenever you show anger or disgust toward civilians, it's a victory for al-Qaeda and other insurgents." Reflecting an understanding of a need for restraint in war as key to defeating an insurgency, he added: "every time you wave at an Iraqi civilian, al-Qaeda rolls over in its grave."[44]

Mattis popularized the 1st Marine Division's motto "no better friend, no worse enemy", a paraphrase of the famous self-made epitaph for the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla,[45] in his open letter to all men within the division for their return to Iraq. This phrase later became widely publicized during the investigation into the conduct of Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a platoon commander serving under Mattis.[46][47][48][49][50][51]

As his division prepared to ship out, Mattis called in experts on the Middle East for cultural sensitivity training. He constantly toured the battlefield to tell stories of Marines who were able to show discretion in moments of high pressure. As an apparent example, he encouraged his Marines to grow mustaches to look more like the people they were working with.[29]

He also was noted for a willingness to remove senior leaders under his command at a time when the U.S. military seemed unable or unwilling to relieve underperforming or incompetent officers. During the division's push to Baghdad, Mattis relieved Colonel Joe D. Dowdy, commander of Regimental Combat Team-1. It was such a rare occurrence in the modern military that it made the front page of newspapers. Despite this, Mattis declined to comment on the matter publicly other than to say that the practice of officer relief remains alive, or at least "we are doing it in the Marines."[40] Later interviews of Dowdy's officers and men revealed that "the colonel was doomed partly by an age-old wartime tension: Men versus mission—in which he favored his men", while Mattis insisted on execution of the mission to seize Baghdad swiftly.[52]

Combat Development Command[]

After being promoted to lieutenant general, Mattis took command of Marine Corps Combat Development Command. On February 1, 2005, speaking at a forum in San Diego, he said "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling." Mattis's remarks sparked controversy; General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a statement suggesting Mattis should have chosen his words more carefully but would not be disciplined.[53]

U.S. Joint Forces Command[]

From left, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Gen. James Mattis, the commander of U.S

Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen and General Mattis in Baghdad, Iraq

The Pentagon announced on May 31, 2006, Mattis had been chosen to take command of I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.[54] On September 11, 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that President George W. Bush had nominated Mattis for appointment to the rank of general to command U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. NATO agreed to appoint Mattis as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. On September 28, 2007, the United States Senate confirmed Mattis's nomination, and he relinquished command of I MEF on November 5, 2007, to Lieutenant General Samuel Helland.[27]

Mattis was promoted to four-star general and took control of JFCOM/SACT on November 9, 2007. He transferred the job of SACT to General Stéphane Abrial of France on September 9, 2009, but continued in command of JFCOM.[55]

U.S. Central Command[]

In early 2010, Mattis was reported to be on the list of generals being considered to replace James T. Conway as the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.[56] In July, he was recommended by Defense Secretary Robert Gates for nomination to replace David Petraeus as commander of United States Central Command,[13][57] and formally nominated by President Obama on July 21.[58]

His confirmation by the Senate marked the first time Marines had held billets as commander and deputy commander of a Unified Combatant Command.[59] He took command at a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base on August 11.[60][61][62]

As head of Central Command, Mattis oversaw the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was responsible for a region that includes Syria, Iran, and Yemen.[63] According to Leon Panetta, the Obama administration did not place much trust in Mattis because he was perceived as too eager for a military confrontation with Iran.[64]

Mattis retired from the Marine Corps in 2013.[65][66]

Civilian career[]

James Mattis official Transition portrait

Mattis in 2016

Since retirement from the military, Mattis has worked for FWA Consultants and also served as a member of the General Dynamics Board of Directors.[65] In August 2013, he became an Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution[67] and has since been named as their Davies Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow.[68]

From 2013 through January 2017, Mattis was a board member of Theranos, a health technology company known for its false claims to have devised revolutionary blood tests using very small amounts of blood.[69][70][71][72] Previously, in mid-2012, a Department of Defense official evaluating Theranos's blood-testing technology for the military initiated a formal inquiry with the Food and Drug Administration about the company's intent to distribute its tests without FDA clearance. In August 2012, Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes asked Mattis, who had expressed interest in testing Theranos's technology in combat areas, to help. Within hours, Mattis forwarded his email exchange with Holmes to military officials, asking "how do we overcome this new obstacle." In a July 2013 letter from the Department of Defense approving his possible employment by Theranos, Mattis was given permission with conditions. He was cautioned to do so only if he did not represent Theranos with regard to the blood-testing device and its potential acquisition by the Departments of the Navy or Defense.[73]

In December 2015, Mattis joined the advisory board[74] of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides assistance to support the safety and success of American service personnel and the local people they seek to help.

He is co-editor of the book Warriors & Citizens: American Views of Our Military, published in August 2016.[75]

Secretary of Defense[]

Nomination and confirmation[]

President Donald J. Trump departs from the Pentagon alongside Secretary of Defense James Mattis on January 27, 2017, in Washington, D.C

Mattis with President Trump and Vice President Pence

Then-President-elect Donald Trump met with Mattis for a little over one hour in Bedminster, New Jersey, on November 20, 2016.[76] He later stated on Twitter, "General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis, who is being considered for Secretary of Defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General's General!"[77] On December 1, 2016, Trump announced at a rally in Cincinnati that he would nominate Mattis for United States Secretary of Defense.[78]

As Mattis retired from the military in 2013, his nomination required a waiver of the National Security Act of 1947, which requires a seven-year waiting period before retired military personnel can assume the role of Secretary of Defense.[79] Mattis is the second Secretary of Defense to receive such a waiver, following George Marshall.[79] Mattis was officially confirmed as Secretary of Defense by a vote of 98–1 in the United States Senate on January 20, 2017.[80] Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was the sole "no" vote.[81] She released a statement, explaining that she was opposed to the waiver of the National Security Act of 1947 even though she "deeply" respects his service.[82]

Tenure[]

JamesN.Mattis

Mattis and Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli at NATO headquarters in Brussels, February 2018

In a January 2017 phone call with Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mattis "reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.–Saudi Arabia strategic relationship".[83]

For his first official trip abroad, Mattis began a two-day visit with longtime U.S. ally South Korea on February 2, 2017.[84] He warned North Korea that "any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated", and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with an "effective and overwhelming" response from the United States.[7] During a press conference in London on March 31, 2017, with his UK counterpart Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon, Mattis said North Korea was behaving "in a very reckless manner" and must be stopped.[85] During a Pentagon news conference on May 26, Mattis reported the U.S. was working with the UN, China, Japan, and South Korea to avoid "a military solution" with North Korea.[86] On June 3, Mattis said the United States regarded North Korea as "clear and present danger" during a speech at the international security conference in Singapore.[87] In a June 12 written statement to the House Armed Services Committee, Mattis said North Korea was the "most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security".[88] On June 15, Mattis said the U.S. would win a war against North Korea but "at great cost".[89]

On March 22, 2017, during questioning from the U.S. Senate, Mattis affirmed his support for U.S. troops remaining in Iraq after the Battle of Mosul was concluded.[90] Mattis responded to critics who suggested the Trump administration had loosened the rules of engagement for the U.S. military in Iraq after U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Mosul killed civilians,[91] saying, "We go out of our way to always do everything humanly possible to reduce the loss of life or injury among innocent people."[92] According to Airwars,[93] the U.S.-led coalition killed as many as 6,000 civilians in Iraq and Syria in 2017.[94]

On April 5, 2017, Mattis called the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack "a heinous act" and said it would be treated accordingly.[95] On April 10, Mattis warned the Syrian government against using chemical weapons again.[96] The following day, Mattis gave his first Pentagon news conference since becoming Secretary of Defense, saying ISIS's defeat remained "our priority" and the Syrian government would pay a "very, very stiff price" for further usage of chemical weapons.[97] On April 21, Mattis said Syria still had chemical weapons and was in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.[98] On May 8, Mattis told reporters details of the proposed Syrian safe zones were "all in process right now" and the United States was involved with configuring them.[99]

Mattis has voiced support for a Saudi Arabian–led military campaign against Yemen's Shiite rebels.[100] He asked Trump to remove restrictions on U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia.[101]

On April 20, 2017, one week after the Nangarhar airstrike, Mattis told reporters that the U.S. would not conduct a damage assessment "in terms of the number of people killed" in Afghanistan.[102] Mattis traveled to Afghanistan days later and met with government officials, explaining that the purpose of the trip was to allow him to state his recommendations for U.S. strategy in the country.[103] On June 13, Mattis said U.S. forces were "not winning" in Afghanistan and the administration would develop a new strategy by "mid-July" while speaking to the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.[104] On June 27, Mattis told reporters that he was creating a conflict-ending strategy for Afghanistan that would also "remove the danger to the Afghan people and to us and to all the nations that have been attacked by terrorist groups out of that region".[105] On June 29, Mattis said the Obama administration "may have pulled our troops out too rapidly" and that he intended to submit a new Afghanistan strategy to Trump upon his return to Washington, D.C.[106]

The United States has been openly arming the Syrian Kurdish fighters in the war against ISIS since May 2017.[107] Following the start of the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin, Mattis said in January 2018: "Turkey is a NATO ally. It's the only NATO country with an active insurgency inside its borders. And Turkey has legitimate security concerns."[108] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag urged the United States to halt its support for Kurdish YPG fighters, saying: "Those who support the terrorist organization will become a target in this battle."[109]

Political views[]

Israeli–Palestinian peace process[]

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis conducts a bilateral meeting with Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman before attending the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb

Mattis with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman in February 2017

Mattis supports a two-state solution model for Israeli–Palestinian peace. He says the current situation in Israel is "unsustainable" and argues that the settlements harm prospects for peace and could lead to an apartheid-like situation in the West Bank.[110] In particular, he believes the lack of a two-state solution is upsetting to America's Arab allies, weakening their esteem for the US. Mattis strongly supported Secretary of State John Kerry on the Middle East peace process, praising Kerry for being "wisely focused like a laser beam" on a two-state solution.[111]

Iran and Arab allies[]

Mattis believes Iran is the principal threat to the stability of the Middle East, ahead of Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Mattis says: "I consider ISIS nothing more than an excuse for Iran to continue its mischief. Iran is not an enemy of ISIS. They have a lot to gain from the turmoil in the region that ISIS creates." Mattis sees the Iran nuclear deal as a poor agreement, but believes there is now no way to tear it up, saying: "We are just going to have to recognize that we have an imperfect arms control agreement. Second, that what we achieved is a nuclear pause, not a nuclear halt". Mattis argues that inspections may fail to prevent Iran from seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but that "[i]f nothing else at least we will have better targeting data if it comes to a fight in the future."[10] Additionally, he criticized Obama for being "naive" about Iranian intentions and Congress for being "pretty much absent" on the nuclear deal.[112]

Defense Secretary James Mattis & Deputy Crown Price of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C

Mattis with Saudi Arabia's prince Mohammad in March 2017

Mattis praises the friendship of regional US allies such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.[113] He also criticized Obama for seeing allies as "free-loading", saying: "For a sitting U.S. President to see our allies as freeloaders is nuts."[113] He has cited the importance of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan as countries that wanted to help, for example, in filling in the gaps in Afghanistan. He criticized Obama's defense strategy as giving "the perception we're pulling back" from US allies.[114] He stresses the need for the US to bolster its ties with allied intelligence agencies, particularly those of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.[115] In 2012, Mattis argued for providing weapons to Syrian rebels as a way to fight back against Iranian proxies in Syria.[116]

Japan[]

Mattis visited Japan one week after being sworn in as Secretary of Defense. During a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, Mattis emphasized that the United States remains committed to the mutual defense of Japan and stated, "I want there to be no misunderstanding during the transition in Washington that we stand firmly, 100 percent, shoulder to shoulder with you and the Japanese people."[117]

Mattis reassured Japan that the U.S. would defend the disputed Senkaku Islands controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.[118]

Russia[]

Speaking at a conference sponsored by The Heritage Foundation in Washington in 2015, Mattis said he believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin's intent is "to break NATO apart."[119] Mattis has also spoken out against what he perceives as Russia's expansionist or bellicose policies in Syria, Ukraine and the Baltic states.[120] In 2017, Mattis said that the world order is "under biggest attacks since World War Two, from Russia, terrorist groups, and China's actions in the South China Sea."[9]

On February 16, 2017, Mattis said the United States was not currently prepared to collaborate with Russia on military matters, including future anti-ISIS U.S. operations.[8] In August 2017, he said: "Despite Russia's denials, we know they are seeking to redraw international borders by force, undermining the sovereign and free nations of Europe".[121]

Secretaries Tillerson and Mattis Host the U.S

Mattis and Tillerson with Chinese General Fang Fenghui and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, June 2017

China[]

Mattis called for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and criticized China's island-building activities, saying: "The bottom line is [...] the international waters are international waters."[122]

Climate change[]

In 2017, Mattis said that budget cuts would hamper the ability to monitor the impact of climate change,[11] and noted, "climate change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of-government response."[123]

Personal life[]

Mattis has never been married[52] and has no children.[1] He proposed to a woman named Alice Gillis, but she called off the wedding days before it was to occur, not wanting to burden his career.[18] He is nicknamed "The Warrior Monk" because of his bachelorhood and lifelong devotion to the study of war.[124] Mattis is Catholic, and has been described as "devout"[125] and "committed."[126] During the 2003 Iraq invasion, he often prayed with general John F. Kelly on Sundays.[125] The Trump transition team's formal biography of Mattis described him as “the living embodiment of the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis."[126] He has shown restraint when asked by reporters to discuss his faith in public.[127] In a 2003 PBS interview, Mattis recalled how his Marines followed advice from his chaplain on gaining the support of Iraqi citizens: “On the suggestion of my Catholic chaplain the Marines would take chilled drinking water in bottles and walk out amongst the protesters and hand it out. It is just hard to throw a rock at somebody who has given you a cold drink of water and it’s 120 degrees outside.”[126]

Military awards[]

Mattis's decorations, awards, and badges include, among others:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon
 ribbon ribbon
ribbon
Transparent square
Bronze Star ribbon
Gold star
Gold star
Meritorious Service ribbon
ribbon
ribbon ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon ribbon
ribbon ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016)
Bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon
Bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon ribbon
ribbon
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Bronze star
Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon
ribbon
NATO Meritorious Service Medal bar NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar ribbon ribbon
USMC Rifle Expert badge USMC Pistol Expert badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
1st row Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ one oak leaf cluster Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal
2nd row Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat "V" Meritorious Service Medal w/ two 516" Gold Stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
3rd row Combat Action Ribbon Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation
4th row Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal National Defense Service Medal w/ two 316" bronze stars Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ two 316" bronze stars
5th row Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ one 316" bronze star Iraq Campaign Medal w/ one 316" bronze star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
6th row Humanitarian Service Medal Sea Service Ribbon w/ one 316" silver star and two 316" bronze stars Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon w/ one 316" bronze star Polish Army Medal in gold
7th row NATO Meritorious Service Medal[55] NATO Medal for Service with ISAF[55] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Badges Rifle Expert Badge (4th award) Pistol Expert Badge (2nd award)
Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Defense

Mattis receiving the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from Michael Mullen at the annual Atlantic Council Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.

Civilian awards[]

Mattis's civilian awards include:

  • 2009 – Center for National Policy's Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award[13]
  • 2010 – Atlantic Council's Distinguished Military Leadership Award.[13]
  • 2013 – World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads "Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen of the Year" Award[65]
  • 2014 – Marine Corps University Foundation Semper Fidelis Award[65]
  • 2014 – Washington College honorary doctor of laws degree[128]
  • 2016 – Washington Policy Center Champion of Freedom Award recipient [129]

In popular culture[]

  • Mattis is portrayed by Robert John Burke in the 2008 HBO miniseries Generation Kill, depicting the events of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[130]
  • Mattis is also known for the internet meme depicting him as "Saint Mattis of Quantico, Patron Saint of Chaos."[131]

See also[]

Bibliography[]

  • Reynolds, Nicholas E. (2005). Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond: The U.S. Marine Corps in the Second Iraq War. p. 5. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-717-4

Notes[]

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kovach, Gretel C. (January 19, 2013). "Just don't call him Mad Dog". San Diego Union Tribune. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-just-dont-call-him-mad-dog-2013jan19-story.html. Retrieved November 20, 2016. "He is a lifelong bachelor with no children, but wouldn't move into a monastery unless it was stocked with "beer and ladies."" 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Boot, Max (March 2006). "The Corps should look to its small-wars past". Armed Forces Journal. http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/the-corps-should-look-to-its-small-wars-past/. Retrieved July 29, 2014. 
  3. "James Mattis". United States Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/1055835/james-mattis. 
  4. Garamone, James (August 11, 2010). "Gates: Mattis brings experience, continuity to Central Command". American Forces Press Service. Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819190543/http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/GatesMattisbringsexperience%2CcontinuitytoCentralCommand.aspx. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  5. "US Senate Roll Call Vote PN29". United States Senate. January 20, 2017. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00029. Retrieved January 24, 2017. 
  6. James Mattis, in South Korea, Tries to Reassure an Ally - NY Times, February 2, 2017
  7. 7.0 7.1 "US warns North Korea against nuclear attack". Al Jazeera. February 3, 2017.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Baldor, Lolita (16 February 2017). "Mattis: US not ready to collaborate militarily with Russia". ABC News. Associated Press. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mattis-us-ready-collaborate-militarily-russia-45531272. Retrieved 16 February 2017. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 ""US needs to be ready to confront Russia: Trump's Pentagon pick". Press TV. January 13, 2017. http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/01/13/506051/James-Mattis-Defense-Department-Donald-Trump-Vladimir-Putin. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 McIntyre, Jamie (April 22, 2016). "Mattis: Iran is the biggest threat to Mideast peace". Washington Examiner. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mattis-iran-is-the-biggest-threat-to-mideast-peace/article/2589267. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Secretary of Defense James Mattis: The Lone Climate Change Soldier in this Administration's Cabinet". Union of Concerned Scientists. 2017. http://blog.ucsusa.org/shana-udvardy/secretary-of-defense-james-mattis-the-lone-climate-change-soldier-in-this-administrations-cabinet. 
  12. "Climate change, extreme weather already threaten 50% of U.S. military sites". USA Today. Jan 31, 2018. https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2018/01/31/climate-change-extreme-weather-military-defense-department-trump-global-warming-wildfires-droughts/1079278001/. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 111th Congress". U.S. Government Printing Office. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111shrg65070/pdf/CHRG-111shrg65070.pdf. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  14. "Rose Marie Proulx Ames Obituary". The Washington Post. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=150110029. Retrieved November 29, 2016. 
  15. "10 Things You Didn't Know About James Mattis". https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-01-13/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-james-mattis. Retrieved January 17, 2017. 
  16. "Jim Mattis Fast Facts". CNN Library. http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/26/us/jim-mattis-fast-facts/. Retrieved 22 January 2017. 
  17. "Reflections with General James Mattis – Conversations with History". University Of California Television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOc38ZwEO8s. Retrieved 19 December 2016. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "James Mattis, a Warrior in Washington". The New Yorker. May 29, 2017. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/05/29/james-mattis-a-warrior-in-washington. 
  19. Kraemer, Kristin M. (November 22, 2016). "Gen. Mattis, Trump's possible defense chief, fulfills Benton County jury duty". Tri-City Herald. http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article116590898.html. 
  20. Ray, Michael (December 2, 2016). "James Mattis". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Mattis. 
  21. Baldor, Lolita C. (December 2, 2016). "Trump to nominate retired Gen. James Mattis to lead Pentagon". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/trump-to-nominate-retired-gen-james-mattis-to-lead-pentagon/2016/12/01/fc8d55a8-b831-11e6-939c-91749443c5e5_story.html. Retrieved 23 December 2016. 
  22. "Official website". United States Joint Forces Command. http://www.jfcom.mil/. 
  23. "James N. Mattis - Donald Trump Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense - Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/1059855/james-n-mattis/. 
  24. "General James Mattis, "In the Midst of the Storm: A US Commander's View of the Changing Middle East"". Dartmouth College. September 25, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzl8hZWzVpI. 
  25. 25.0 25.1 Reynolds, Nicholas E. (2005). Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-1-59114-717-6. https://www.amazon.com/Basrah-Baghdad-Beyond-Marine-Second/dp/1591147174. Retrieved February 20, 2013. 
  26. 26.0 26.1 Ricks, Thomas E. (August 1, 2006). "Fiasco". http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/fiasco/. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Gen James N. Mattis". Military Hall of Honor. http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=405. Retrieved 19 May 2017. 
  28. 28.0 28.1 Thomas E. Ricks (2006). Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. New York: Penguin Press. p. 313. 
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 A Marine General at War By John Dickerson, Slate, 04/2010
  30. "LtGen James Mattis' Reading List". Small Wars Journal. June 5, 2007. http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/ltgen-james-mattis-reading-list. 
  31. Ricks, Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, p. 317
  32. Lowry, Richard (December 9, 2016). "Op-ed: General James N. Mattis – A Marine for the History Books". American Military News. http://americanmilitarynews.com/2016/12/op-ed-general-james-n-mattis-a-marine-for-the-history-books/. Retrieved 10 March 2017. 
  33. Walker, Mark (June 2, 2006). "Mattis to assume command of I MEF". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-mattis-to-assume-command-of-i-mef-2006jun02-story.html. Retrieved 19 May 2017. 
  34. Wolf, McKenzie (September 21, 2017). "The origin of Mattis' call sign, 'Chaos'". Marine Corps Times. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2017/09/21/mattis-explains-the-origin-of-the-call-sign-chaos/. Retrieved 20 Oct 2017. 
  35. Gal Perl Finkel, General Mattis: A warrior diplomat, The Jerusalem Post, December 12, 2016.
  36. YANIV BARZILAI (31 January 2014). 102 Days of War: How Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda & the Taliban Survived 2001. Potomac Books, Inc.. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-1-61234-534-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=MsvQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45. 
  37. Tritten, Travis J. (2016-12-02). "Retired Green Beret says Mattis left 'my men to die' in Afghanistan". https://www.stripes.com/news/retired-green-beret-says-mattis-left-my-men-to-die-in-afghanistan-1.442367. 
  38. Vladimirov, Nikita (2016-12-02). "Former Special Forces officer: Mattis 'betrayed his duty to us'". http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/308527-former-special-forces-officer-blasts-trump-defense-secretary. 
  39. Meek, James Gordon; Ferran, Lee (2016-12-06). "Men Left 'to Die': Gen. James Mattis' Controversial Wartime Decision". http://abcnews.go.com/US/men-left-die-gen-james-mattis-controversial-wartime/story?id=44018222. 
  40. 40.0 40.1 Thomas E. Ricks (2012). The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today. New York: Penguin Press. p. 405. ISBN 978-1-59420-404-3. 
  41. Szoldra, Paul (December 1, 2006). "19 unforgettable quotes from legendary Marine Gen. James 'Mad Dog' Mattis". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/general-mattiss-best-quotes-2016-11/#i-dont-lose-any-sleep-at-night-over-the-potential-for-failure-i-cannot-even-spell-the-word-7. Retrieved 19 May 2017. 
  42. West, Bing (2008). The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 978-1-4000-6701-5. 
  43. "Iraq Wedding-Party Video Backs Survivors' Claims" (in en-US). 2004-05-24. http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/05/24/iraq-wedding-party-video-backs-survivors-claims.html. 
  44. Perry, Tony (May 17, 2007). "General Urges Marines To Add A Friendly Wave To Their Arsenal". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/17/world/fg-force17. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  45. Durant, Will (2001). Heroes of History: A Brief History of Civilization from Ancient Times to the Dawn of the Modern Age. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 131. ISBN 0-7432-2910-X. 
  46. "Top 10 Stories of 2005: Pantano, roads, Olchowski are 10–7". Star News Online. December 28, 2005. http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051228/NEWS/51227016&SearchID=73247366207350. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  47. Quinn-Judge, Paul (February 28, 2005). "Did He Go Too Far?". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1032357-1,00.html. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  48. Phillips, Stone (April 26, 2005). "Marine charged with murders of Iraqis: Lieutenant claims self-defense in shooting of detainees". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7250029/. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  49. Jeff Schogol (November 16, 2005). "Marine acquitted in Iraqi shootings will publish a book". Stars and Stripes. http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=33048. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  50. Walker, Mark (July 1, 2006). "Pantano case has parallels to Hamdania incident". North County Times. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/07/02/news/top_stories/22_22_057_1_06.txt. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  51. Charen, Mona (February 25, 2005). "Is the Marine Corps P.C.?". townhall.com. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MonaCharen/2005/02/25/is_the_marine_corps_pc. Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  52. 52.0 52.1 Cooper, Christopher (April 5, 2004). "How a Marine Lost His Command In Race to Baghdad". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108111980285073875. Retrieved August 12, 2015. 
  53. Guardiano, John R. (February 11, 2005). "Breaking the Warrior Code". The American Spectator. https://spectator.org/48978_breaking-warrior-code/. Retrieved 28 January 2017. 
  54. Lowe, Christian (June 12, 2006). "Popular commander to lead I MEF". Marine Corps Times. p. 24. 
  55. 55.0 55.1 55.2 "French general assumes command of Allied Command Transformation". Allied Command Transformation Public Affairs Office. USS George Washington (CVN-73): NATO. September 18, 2009. http://www.act.nato.int/french-general-assumes-command-of-allied-command-transformation. Retrieved September 28, 2009. 
  56. Gearan, Anne (June 22, 2010). "Gates announces nomination of Amos for CMC". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120322203931/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/06/ap_CMC_062110/. Retrieved July 8, 2010. 
  57. Cavallaro, Gina (July 8, 2010). "Pentagon picks Mattis to take over CENTCOM". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100712031949/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/07/military_mattis_centcom_070810w/. Retrieved July 8, 2010. 
  58. "Obama backs Mattis nomination for CENTCOM". Marine Corps Times. July 22, 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120117234339/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/07/marine_mattis_centcom_072110w/. Retrieved July 23, 2010. 
  59. "Petraeus' replacement at Central Command confirmed". The Fayetteville Observer. August 6, 2010. http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/08/06/1019648. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  60. "Mattis takes over Central Command, vows to work with Mideast allies in Afghanistan, Iraq". Fox News. August 11, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/11/mattis-takes-central-command-vows-work-mideast-allies-afghanistan-iraq/. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  61. Mitchell, Robbyn (August 12, 2010). "Mattis takes over as CentCom chief". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171654/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1114800.ece. Retrieved August 12, 2010. 
  62. "Mattis assumes command of CENTCOM". U.S. Central Command. August 11, 2010. http://www.centcom.mil/news/mattis-assumes-command-of-centcom. Retrieved August 12, 2010. 
  63. "Mattis interview: Syria would fall without Iran's help". April 12, 2013. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/11/syria-iran-mattis-central-command-chief-interview/2069935/. 
  64. Panetta, Leon. Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace (Kindle ed.). Penguin Group. 
  65. 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 "About General James Mattis". FWA Consultants. http://fwaconsultants.homestead.com/MattisBio.html. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  66. "Jim Mattis". United States Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/1055835/james-mattis. "Following his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2013, Secretary Mattis served as the Davies Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, specializing in the study of leadership, national security, strategy, innovation, and the effective use of military force." 
  67. "General Jim Mattis, Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow". Hoover Institute. http://www.hoover.org/profiles/james-mattis. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  68. "General Jim Mattis". Hoover Institution. http://www.hoover.org/profiles/james-mattis. Retrieved November 28, 2016. 
  69. John Carreyrou (21 May 2018). Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-5247-3166-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=CcJFDwAAQBAJ. 
  70. Levine, Matt (14 March 2018). "The Blood Unicorn Theranos Was Just a Fairy Tale". Bloomberg View. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/theranos-misled-investors-and-consumers-who-used-its-blood-test. Retrieved 14 March 2018. 
  71. Weaver, Christopher (January 5, 2017). "Trump Defense Nominee James Mattis Resigns From Theranos Board". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defense-nominee-james-mattis-resigns-from-theranos-board-1483649696. Retrieved 28 January 2017. 
  72. "A singular board at Theranos". Fortune. June 12, 2014. http://fortune.com/2014/06/12/theranos-board-directors/. Retrieved October 12, 2015. 
  73. Carolyn Y. Johnson (December 2, 2015). "E-mails reveal concerns about Theranos's FDA compliance date back years". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/02/internal-emails-reveal-concerns-about-theranoss-fda-compliance-date-back-years/?tid=pm_business_pop_b. Retrieved December 26, 2015. 
  74. Mattis, James. "Why I'm Joining Spirit of America". Spirit of America. https://spiritofamerica.org/blog/im-joining-spirit-america. Retrieved November 28, 2016. 
  75. Mattis, Jim; Schake, Kori, eds (August 2016). Warriors and Citizens: American Views of Our Military. Stanford, California: Hoover Institution. ISBN 978-0-8179-1934-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=1gpmDAAAQBAJ. Retrieved November 28, 2016. 
  76. Phil Mattingly (November 20, 2016). "Trump: 'Mad Dog' Mattis is a 'very impressive' candidate for defense secretary". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/19/politics/donald-trump-james-mattis-defense-secretary/index.html. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  77. Donald J. Trump (November 11, 2016). "Donald Trump Tweets he is considering "Mad Dog" Mattis for Secretary of Defense". Twitter. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/800332639844659201. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  78. Lamothe, Dan. "Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-chosen-retired-marine-gen-james-mattis-for-secretary-of-defense/2016/12/01/6c6b3b74-aff9-11e6-be1c-8cec35b1ad25_story.html. Retrieved December 1, 2016. 
  79. 79.0 79.1 Lamothe, Dan (December 1, 2016). "Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-chosen-retired-marine-gen-james-mattis-for-secretary-of-defense/2016/12/01/6c6b3b74-aff9-11e6-be1c-8cec35b1ad25_story.html. Retrieved December 1, 2016. 
  80. "Senate confirms retired Gen. James Mattis as defense secretary, breaking with decades of precedent". The Washington Post. January 20, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/01/20/senate-confirms-retired-gen-james-mattis-as-defense-secretary-breaking-with-decades-of-precedent/. 
  81. Peterson, Kristina; Hughes, Siobhan (20 January 2017). "Senate Confirms James Mattis as Defense Secretary". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-confirms-james-mattis-as-defense-secretary-1484952996?mod=e2tw. Retrieved 20 January 2017. 
  82. Schor, Elana (20 January 2017). "Gillibrand says she won't vote for Mattis waiver". Politico. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/kirsten-gillibrand-mattis-waiver-232099. Retrieved 20 January 2017. "While I deeply respect General Mattis's service, I will oppose a waiver. Civilian control of our military is a fundamental principle of American democracy, and I will not vote for an exception to this rule." 
  83. "Readout of Secretary Mattis' Call with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman". U.S. Department of Defense. January 31, 2017.
  84. Jim Mattis, in South Korea, Tries to Reassure an Ally - NY Times, February 2, 2017
  85. "Defense Sec. James Mattis: North Korea 'Has Got to Be Stopped'". NBC News. March 31, 2017. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/defense-sec-james-mattis-north-korea-has-got-be-stopped-n740966. 
  86. "James Mattis says a military solution in North Korea will 'be tragic on an unbelievable scale'". Business Insider. May 26, 2017. http://www.businessinsider.com/mattis-military-solution-north-korea-would-be-tragic-2017-5. 
  87. "Defense Secretary Mattis turns up heat on North Korea and China". CBS News. June 3, 2017. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/defense-secretary-mattis-turns-up-heat-on-north-korea-and-china/. 
  88. Ali, Idrees; Stone, Mike (June 13, 2017). "North Korea 'most urgent' threat to security: Mattis". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-northkorea-idUSKBN19407I. 
  89. Lockie, Alex (June 16, 2017). "Defense Secretary Mattis explains what war with North Korea would look like". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/mattis-north-korea-war-we-will-win-2017-6. 
  90. Shane III, Leo (March 22, 2017). "Mattis: Expect U.S. troops in Iraq even after ISIS falls". MilitaryTimes. http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/mattis-troops-iraq-years-after-isis. 
  91. "After civilians killed in Mosul, Pentagon denies loosening rules". Reuters. March 27, 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-mosul-usa-idUSKBN16Y2BA. 
  92. "Civilian casualties are up and Congress is AWOL". Chicago Tribune. April 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429142153/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-isis-comment-5a03b440-1ed3-11e7-be2a-3a1fb24d4671-20170411-story.html. 
  93. "US-led coalition killed up to 6000 civilians in fight against IS: watchdog says". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 January 2018.
  94. "Civilian deaths tripled in U.S.-led campaign against ISIS in 2017, watchdog alleges". The Washington Post. 18 January 2018.
  95. "Defense Secretary Mattis condemns 'heinous' chemical attack in Syria, DoD mulls response". Washington Times. April 5, 2017. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/5/mattis-condemns-heinous-chemical-attack-syria/. 
  96. "Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on the U.S. Military Response to the Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons". United States Department of Defense. April 10, 2017. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1146758/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-jim-mattis-on-the-us-military-response-to-the/. 
  97. Klimas, Jacqueline (April 11, 2017). "Mattis: U.S. Syria policy is still to defeat ISIS". Politico. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/mattis-syria-policy-defeat-isis-237122. 
  98. Burns, Robert (April 21, 2017). "US Defense Sec'y Mattis: Syria still has chemical weapons". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170421221230/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-defense-secy-mattis-syria-chemical-weapons-46931091. 
  99. Mitchell, Ellen (May 8, 2017). "Mattis: Questions unanswered on Syria cease-fire plan". The Hill. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/332366-mattis-questions-unanswered-on-syria-cease-fire-plan. 
  100. "Pentagon Weighs More Support for Saudi-led War in Yemen". Foreign Policy. March 26, 2017. https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/26/pentagon-weighs-more-support-for-saudi-led-war-in-yemen/. 
  101. "Trump administration weighs deeper involvement in Yemen war". The Washington Post. March 26, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-weighs-deeper-involvement-in-yemen-war/2017/03/26/b81eecd8-0e49-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html. 
  102. Klimas, Jacqueline (April 20, 2017). "Mattis: U.S. won't dig into 'mother of all bombs' damage in Afghanistan". Politico. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/20/jim-mattis-mother-of-all-bombs-afghanistan-damage-237413. 
  103. Cullinane, Susannah; Browne, Ryan (March 27, 2017). "US Defense Secretary Mattis visits Afghanistan". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/24/politics/mattis-afghanistan-visit/. 
  104. O'Brien, Connor (June 13, 2017). "Mattis: 'We are not winning in Afghanistan'". Politico. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/13/jim-mattis-not-winning-afghanistan-239488. 
  105. Johnson, Bridget (June 27, 2017). "Mattis Crafting Strategy to 'Remove the Danger to the Afghan People and to Us'". PJMedia.com. https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/2017/06/27/mattis-crafting-strategy-to-remove-the-danger-to-the-afghan-people-and-to-us/. 
  106. "Mattis says US 'may have pulled our troops out too rapidly' in Afghanistan". Fox News. June 29, 2017. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/29/mattis-says-us-may-have-pulled-our-troops-out-too-rapidly-in-afghanistan.html. 
  107. "Turkish Forces Bomb Key U.S. Ally In Fight Against ISIS In Syria". Newsweek. January 22, 2018.
  108. "Turkey has legitimate security concerns: Mattis". Hürriyet Daily News. January 22, 2018.
  109. "Turkey to US: Stop YPG support or face 'confrontation'". Al Jazeera. January 25, 2018.
  110. Trump's top Pentagon pick said settlements were creating 'apartheid' by Eric Cortellessa; November 20, 2016, 7:51 am, Times of Israel
  111. Ex-US general: We pay a price for backing Israel by Lazar Berman July 25, 2013, 10:11 pm, Times of Israel
  112. Shane III, Leo (April 22, 2016). "General Mattis wants Iran to be a top focus for the next president (whoever it is)". Military Times. http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2016/04/22/mattis-csis-speech-iran/83397134/. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  113. 113.0 113.1 Seck, Hope Hodge (April 22, 2016). "Mattis: 'I Don't Understand' Speculation about Presidential Run". military.com. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/04/22/mattis-i-dont-understand-speculation-about-presidential-run.html. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  114. Grady, John (May 14, 2015). "Mattis: U.S. Suffering 'Strategic Atrophy'". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. https://news.usni.org/2015/05/14/mattis-u-s-suffering-strategic-atrophy. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  115. Muñoz, Carlo (April 22, 2016). "James Mattis, retired Marine general, says Iran nuclear deal 'fell short'". The Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/22/james-mattis-retired-marine-general-says-iran-nucl/. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  116. Ackerman, Spencer (March 6, 2012). "Military's Mideast Chief Sounds Ready to Aid Syria's Rebels". Wired. https://www.wired.com/2012/03/mattis-syria. Retrieved December 2, 2016. 
  117. Gordon, Michael R.; Rich, Motoko (February 3, 2017). "Jim Mattis Says U.S. Is 'Shoulder to Shoulder' With Japan". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/world/asia/us-japan-mattis-abe-defense.html?_r=0. Retrieved 8 February 2017. 
  118. "China accuses US of putting regional stability at risk over backing of Japan in island dispute". The Independent. 4 February 2017.
  119. General stating Russian aggression in Ukraine "much more severe" than U.S. treats it may become Defense Secretary, UNIAN (November 19, 2016)
  120. James Mattis, Outspoken Retired Marine, Is Trump's Choice as Defense Secretary, The New York Times (December 1, 2016)
  121. "James Mattis says Russia wants to use violence to redraw the borders of Europe". August 25, 2017. http://www.newsweek.com/russia-lies-about-not-wanting-redraw-map-europe-force-mattis-tells-ukraine-655034. 
  122. Hunt, Katie (January 13, 2017). "Chinese state media slams Tillerson over South China Sea". CNN Politics. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/13/politics/us-tillerson-china-reaction/. Retrieved 8 February 2017. 
  123. "US Defence Secretary James Mattis says climate change is already destabilising the world". The Independent. 2017. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/james-mattis-us-defence-secretary-climate-change-destabilise-world-security-donald-trump-global-a7630676.html. 
  124. North, Oliver (July 9, 2010). "Gen. Mattis: The Warrior Monk". Fox News Insider. http://insider.foxnews.com/2010/07/09/gen-mattis-the-warrior-monk. Retrieved June 3, 2015. [dead link]
  125. 125.0 125.1 Jaffe, Greg; deGrandpre, Andrew (2017-07-28). "In John Kelly, Trump gets a plain-spoken disciplinarian as his chief of staff" (in en-US). Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-john-kelly-trump-gets-a-plain-spoken-disciplinarian-as-his-chief-of-staff/2017/07/28/0c29cfc2-73db-11e7-9eac-d56bd5568db8_story.html. 
  126. 126.0 126.1 126.2 "Trump’s Catholic Warriors". National Catholic Register. http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/trumps-catholic-warriors. 
  127. "Mattis Shows How to Handle a Reporter’s Question About His Religious Beliefs" (in en). https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/12/04/mattis-shows-how-to-handle-a-reporters-question-about-his-religious-beliefs/. 
  128. "Convocation Will Honor Marine General James Mattis". Washington College. https://www.washcoll.edu/live/news/5053-convocation-will-honor-marine-general-james-mattis. Retrieved June 3, 2015. 
  129. "WPC's 2016 'Champion of Freedom' named Secretary of Defense". Washington Policy Center. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/wpcs-2016-champion-of-freedom-named-secretary-of-defense. Retrieved December 5, 2016. 
  130. "Maj. Gen. James 'Maddog' Mattis". HBO. http://www.hbo.com/generation-kill/cast-and-crew/maj-gen-james-mattis/index.html. 
  131. Szoldra, Paul (December 2, 2016). "The Facebook page for Marine Special Ops posted a picture of 'Mad Dog' Mattis as a saint". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/marsoc-facebook-mattis-saint-2016-12. Retrieved 25 January 2017. 

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Lance L. Smith
Supreme Allied Commander of Transformation
2007–2009
Succeeded by
Stéphane Abrial
Commander of United States Joint Forces Command
2007–2010
Succeeded by
Keith Huber
Acting
Preceded by
John R. Allen
Acting
Commander of United States Central Command
2010–2013
Succeeded by
Lloyd Austin
Political offices
Preceded by
Ash Carter
United States Secretary of Defense
2017–present
Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Steve Mnuchin
as Secretary of the Treasury
Order of Precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Defense
Succeeded by
Jeff Sessions
as Attorney General
United States presidential line of succession
Preceded by
Steve Mnuchin
as Secretary of the Treasury
6th in line
as Secretary of Defense
Succeeded by
Jeff Sessions
as Attorney General



All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Jim Mattis and the edit history here.
Advertisement