Marine Gen. James Mattis, currently commander Joint Forces Command, will replace Gen. David Petraeus as the next commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today.
This is a great move. Defense Tech readers will know we are big fans of the blunt speaking Mattis. As Gates said today, Mattis' intellect and knowledge are truly impressive; he selected Mattis to lead the "red team" that war gamed scenarios that informed the recent QDR.
Mattis has some serious on the ground experience in the CENTCOM region, including as a battalion commander during Desert Storm, he commanded the Marine forces in Afghanistan in 2001 and the Marines in Iraq in 2003-2004.
-- Greg Grant
