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James N. Mattis

James Mattis
James Mattis Official SECDEF Photo.jpg
26th United States Secretary of Defense
Assumed office
January 20, 2017
President Donald Trump
Deputy Bob Work
Preceded by Ash Carter
Commander of United States Central Command
In office
August 11, 2010 – March 22, 2013
President Barack Obama
Preceded by John R. Allen (Acting)
Succeeded by Lloyd Austin
Commander of the United States Joint Forces Command
In office
November 9, 2007 – August 11, 2010
President George W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded by Lance L. Smith
Succeeded by Ray Odierno
Supreme Allied Commander of Transformation
In office
November 9, 2007 – September 8, 2009
Preceded by Lance L. Smith
Succeeded by Stéphane Abrial
Personal details
Born James Norman Mattis
(1950-09-08) September 8, 1950 (age 66)
Pullman, Washington, U.S.
Political party Independent
Education Central Washington University (BA)
National War College (MA)
Military service
Nickname(s)
  • "Chaos" (callsign)
  • "Warrior Monk"
  • "Mad Dog"
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1969–2013
Rank US Marine 10 shoulderboard.svg General
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

James Norman "Jim"Mattis (born September 8, 1950) is the 26th and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the Trump Administration. Mattis is a retired United States Marine Corps general who previously served as the 11th Commander of United States Central Command and was responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, and Central Asia, from August 11, 2010, to March 22, 2013.

On January 20, 2017, Mattis was confirmed as Secretary of Defense 98–1 by the United States Senate on a waiver, as he had only been three years out of active duty despite US federal law requiring a seven-year cooling off period for retired military personnel to be appointed Secretary of Defense. He was the first member of President Donald Trump's cabinet to be confirmed.

Before President Barack Obama appointed him to replace General David Petraeus on August 11, 2010, Mattis previously commanded United States Joint Forces Command from November 9, 2007, to August 2010 and served concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from November 9, 2007, to September 8, 2009. Prior to that, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Forces Central Command, and 1st Marine Division during the Iraq War.

Mattis was born on September 8, 1950, in Pullman, Washington. He is the son of Lucille (Proulx) Mattis and John West Mattis (1915–1988), 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. Mattis was raised in Richland, Washington, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1968. He earned a BA degree in history from Central Washington University in 1971, and an M.A. in international security affairs from the National War College in 1994.


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Wikipedia

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