With the selection of Marine Corps legend General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense, President-elect Donald J. Trump continues to surround himself with the most talented and respected national security experts available. Here’s 8 facts about America’s next Secretary of Defense:

With 44 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Marine Corps under his belt, Gen. James Mattis is the living embodiment of the Marine Corps' motto, "Semper Fidelis,” which means “always faithful.”

Prior to his retirement in 2013, Gen. Mattis was the Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for heading up America’s military operations in the Middle East, among other places.

Gen. Mattis has been nicknamed “Mad Dog” and the “Warrior Monk” for “his ferocity toward the enemy” and for being “one of the best-read students of military history and strategy in the entire armed forces.” Mattis has been known to take 7,000 volumes on military history with him from post to post.

Gen. Mattis has combined smarts with experience, having led multiple combat operations in some of the world’s most dangerous places. As the one-star commander of a Marine task force that entered Afghanistan in the fall of 2001, Gen. Mattis led Special Operations Forces against the Taliban. As a two-star general, Gen. Mattis led the First Marine Division from Kuwait to Baghdad in a matter of weeks in 2003, destroying Saddam Hussein's defenses and reaching the Iraqi capital faster and with fewer losses than anyone could have expected.

Gen. Mattis literally wrote the book on counterinsurgency. Working closely with Gen. David Petraeus, Gen. Mattis produced the revolutionary "Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual," the definitive work on how the U.S. military should deal with Iraqi insurgents.

Gen. Mattis agrees with President-elect Trump that Iran is a serious threat to the stability of the Middle East and has deep concerns with the terribly-negotiated Iran nuclear deal.

Gen. Mattis can be relied on to deliver the unvarnished facts so that policymakers can make the best possible decisions. As he famously once said, “You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad.”

Gen. Mattis has a gift of a sharp wit. Among some of his famous lines are, “You are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.” He has also said, “Demonstrate to the world there is ‘No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy’ than a U.S. Marine.”

Gen. James Mattis’ commitment to keeping America safe is unquestionable, and the American people are fortunate that a man of his character and integrity will now be the top civilian leader at the Pentagon. With Gen. Mattis at the helm of the Department of Defense, the American people have reason to be confident, and our enemies reason to be afraid.

GOP

Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

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