Defense Secretary James Mattis used his first public address to speak in observance of Martin Luther King Day and note his support for the diversity of the U.S. military.

“It’s appropriate that my first chance to speak with a large group here at the Pentagon since taking the oath of office is to observe Martin Luther King Day with you,” he said. “In our nation’s history, our military has often served as an example to the American people of unity and strength; of how a diverse group of people can be motivated even under the austere and grim conditions of the battlefield to come together as equals.”

Mattis pointed to the expedition of Army officers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as an historic example of unity in the face of adversity.

“The unit included a slave named York and a Native American woman named Sacagawea,” Mattis said.

“For the first time in the history of our republic, among the members of this isolated patrol far from home, a black man, a Native American, white men and a woman voted as equals with everyone else.”

When asked during his Jan. 12 confirmation hearing if he planned to roll back any of the Obama administration's military personnel initiatives, including those which offered benefits to LGBT soldiers and opened combat jobs to women, Mattis said he did not plan to do so.

"There are many policies that have been enacted over many years, including the years since I've been on active duty," he said. "I'm coming in with the understanding that I lead the Department of Defense and if someone brings me a problem then I'll look at it, but I'm not coming in looking for problems. I'm looking for a way to get the department so it's at the most lethal stance."