Major General James N. Mattis
The Department of Defense announced that President Bush has
nominated Major General James N. Mattis for a third star and
appointment to the grade of Lieutenant General and assignment as
the Commanding General for the Marine Corps Combat Development
Command in Quantico, VA.
Mattis is currently serving as the Commanding General, 1st Marine
Division in Iraq and is currently overseeing 14,000 Marines and
sailors who are conducting peacekeeping and stability operations in
the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Last November, the 1 MEF infantry, under General Mattis' command
was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
It was the first time a Marine unit had received the honor since
1968. And it was well earned - it took our Marines 21 days from crossing
the Kuwait border to the fall ofSaddam's statue in Baghdad.
For the next few months, the Marines lived and worked in the
An Najaf province, bringing rest to a region that had never before
known freedom.
Capt. Jeff Landis, spokesman for the Quantico-based command
observed "I think Gen. Mattis will do really well here because he
knows what the war fighter needs."
Congratulations, Lt. Gen Mattis and thank you for your leadership.
Lieutenant General James N. Mattis
|
Place of birth: Richland, Washington
Allegiance: USMC
Years of service: 1972 - present
Rank: Lieutenant General
Commands: 1st Battalion, 7th Marines
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
Marine Corps Combat Development Command
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Battles/wars: Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards: Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
|
James N. Mattis is a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General currently serving as the Commanding General,
I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, and Commander,
United States Marine Forces Central Command.
Mattis attended Central Washington University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1972.
As a Lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division.
As a Captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade.
As a Major, he commanded RS Portland.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions
in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
As a Colonel, he commanded 7th Marines (Reinforced).
As a Brigadier General, he commanded 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and then Task Force 58 (TF 58),
during Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan. As the commander of TF 58,
he became the first Marine to command a Naval Task Force in combat.
As a Major General, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent
stability operations in during the Iraq War.
He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
The Pentagon announced on May 31, 2006 that Lieutenant General Mattis had been chosen to take command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force
based out of Camp Pendleton, California.
USJFCOM September 11, 2007
President nominates Marine general as new commander
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has announced that the President has nominated U. S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. NATO has also agreed to appoint Mattis as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Mattis currently serves as commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 11, 2007) -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced today that President George W. Bush has nominated U. S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM).
Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., USJFCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense. Pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate, the general will oversee the command's roles in transformation, experimentation, joint training, interoperability and force provision and management as outlined in the Department of Defense's Unified Command Plan.
USJFCOM is a force of more than 1.16 million dedicated men and women, spanning USJFCOM's four service component commands and eight subordinate activities. USJFCOM personnel include members from each branch of the U.S. military, civil servants, contract employees, and consultants.
NATO has also agreed to appoint Mattis as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander-Transformation.
If confirmed, Mattis will replace Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, who announced his retirement earlier this summer after a career of 38 years.
Lt. Gen. Mattis currently serves as commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command.
The general entered the Marine Corps in 1972 and has commanded at multiple levels. As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade.
As a major, he commanded Recruiting Station Portland. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a colonel, he commanded 7th Marines (Reinforced).
Upon becoming a general officer, he commanded first the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and then Task Force 58, during Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan. As a major general, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the initial attack and subsequent stability operations in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Before assuming his current duties in California, he commanded the Marine Corps Combat Development Command as a lieutenant general and served as the deputy commandant for combat development.
He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
UPDATE September 28, 2007
Senate Confirms Nominees to Four Defense Posts
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 – The U.S. Senate voted this morning to confirm four senior military officers to serve as the next the chief of naval operations and commanders of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command.
The vote followed a hearing yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, with the full Senate today confirming the nominations of:
-- Navy Adm. Gary Roughead as chief of naval operations;
-- Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward as commander of U.S. Africa Command;
-- Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton as commander of U.S. Strategic Command; and
-- Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis for promotion to general and appointment as commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation.
Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the current chief of naval operations, is expected to hand the top Navy military position this weekend to Roughead, who currently commands U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Mullen will become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Oct. 1, to replace retiring Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace.
Specific assumption-of-command schedules are not yet available for the three new combatant commanders.
Ward, deputy commander of U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, will stand up the new Africa Command as its first commander. He is charged with bringing the command to initial operational capacity as a command subordinate to EUCOM. AFRICOM is slated to be established as a separate unified command by Sept. 30, 2008.
Chilton, who currently commands Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., will take the helm at Strategic Command, with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
The former STRATCOM commander, Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, became the eighth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Aug. 31.
Mattis, commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command, will receive his fourth star as he becomes the Joint Forces Command chief. In that capacity, he also will serve as NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation. Mattis will replace Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, who announced his retirement this summer after a 38-year-career.
Official Biography: General James N. Mattis
General Mattis serves as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Both headquarters are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and support current operations while shaping NATO and U.S. forces for the future.
General Mattis has commanded at multiple levels. As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade.
As a major, he commanded Recruiting Station Portland. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a colonel, he commanded 7th Marines (Reinforced).
Upon becoming a brigadier general, he commanded first the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and then Task Force 58, during Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan. As a major general, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the initial attack and subsequent stability operations in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In his first tour as a lieutenant general, he commanded the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and served as the deputy commandant for combat development. Most recently, he commanded the I Marine Expeditionary Force and served as the commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command.
General Mattis, a native of the Pacific Northwest, graduated from Central Washington State University in 1972. He is also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
