General Mattis exemplifies principled leadership in times of turbulence. Renowned for his diligent study of war, and his dogged efforts on the battlefield, he is described as a principled commander who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. A rare combination of thinker and doer, and scholar and strategist, General Mattis knows the monumental powers and responsibility of our military forces, and the challenges of our complex world.

General Mattis served as the 26th Secretary of Defense of the United States (2017-2018) for nearly two years before resigning with distinction. With his reputation as a sharp analyst and venerable wartime leader, he received nearly unanimous, bipartisan support for his nomination.

During his 44 years in the Marines, General Mattis rose from an 18-year-old reservist to the highest rank of four-star general. He capped off his military career as head of the U.S. Central Command, where he was in charge of all American forces serving in the Middle East and oversaw operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as parts of Syria, Iran and Yemen.

A veteran of three wars, General Mattis spent much of his career involved in overseas conflict. Described by colleagues and his staff as brave, honest and humble, he proved to be an exceptional motivator of Marines and developed a leading style that endeared him to his troops. “Believe so completely in subordinates they have no choice but to believe in themselves; act from integrity and authenticity, let your very goodness put ambition out of context,” he counsels.

General Mattis is also an accomplished author with his 2021 book, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, achieving the No. 1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Call Sign Chaos is a memoir about learning to lead and a story about how he, through constant study and action, developed a unique leadership philosophy, one relevant to us all.