Senate confirms next commander
The United States Senate has confirmed the current commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and the commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command, Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, as the next commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command.
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(WASHINGTON - Sept. 28, 2007) -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the next commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command in a vote here today.
http://www.jfcom.mil/newslink/storyarchive/2007/pa092807.htm
By USJFCOM Public Affairs
Marine Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, who 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, will replace Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, who announced his retirement earlier this summer after a career of 38 years
As USJFCOM's commander, Mattis will pin on his fourth star and will be responsible for maximizing future and present military capabilities of the United States by leading the transformation of joint forces through enhanced joint concept development and experimentation, identifying joint requirements, advancing interoperability, conducting joint training and providing ready U.S. forces and capabilities - all in support of U.S. combatant commanders around the world. He will exercise combatant command of approximately 1.16 million personnel through his Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps service components.
NATO has also agreed to appoint Mattis as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander-Transformation.
Mattis will be the first Marine to command USJFCOM since its renaming in 1999. Marine Gen. John J. Sheehan commanded the command's predecessor, U.S. Atlantic Command, from 1995-1997.
After graduating from Central Washington State University, 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.