James Mattis

James Mattis
26th United States Secretary of Defense
Incumbent
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	Keith Huber (Acting)
Supreme Allied Commander of Transformation
In office November 9, 2007 – September 8, 2009
Preceded by	Lance Smith
Succeeded by	Stéphane Abrial
Personal details
Born	James Norman Mattis (1950-09-08) September 8, 1950 (age 66) Pullman, Washington, U.S.
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	General
Commands	U.S. Central Command U.S. Joint Forces Command Supreme Allied Commander Transformation I Marine Expeditionary Force U.S. Marine Forces Central Command Marine Corps Combat Development Command 1st Marine Division 7th Marine Regiment 1st Battalion, 7th Marines
Battles/wars	Persian Gulf War Invasion of Afghanistan Iraq War  • Invasion of Iraq  • First Battle of Fallujah  • Second Battle of Fallujah
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star (with Valor) Meritorious Service Medal (3)

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 as an infant and had worked in Army Intelligence in South Africa during the Second World War. He was raised in Richland, Washington, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1968. Mattis earned a BA degree in history from Central Washington University in 1971. He also earned an M.A. in international security affairs from the National War College in 1994.

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