December 1, 2016
CONTACT: Sidney Traynham, [email protected], 703-909-6934

WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s President and CEO Liz Schrayer released the following statement on the Secretary of Defense nomination for General James Mattis, who serves on USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council, a group of nearly 200 retired three and four star military leaders.

“General James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis is a strong and smart choice to lead our nation’s Defense Department at a time of growing complexity on the world stage. He has long been a forward-looking strategic thinker, championing the use of America’s civilian tools alongside the military to keep our nation safe, including strong investments in development and diplomacy.

As the head of U.S. Central Command, General Mattis famously testified before the Armed Services Committee: ‘If you don’t fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition.’ He has traveled the country to make the case that the military alone cannot keep our nation safe, calling the State Department and USAID ‘essential’ to promoting America’s interests abroad along with ‘preventing conflict and countering extremism.’

If confirmed, the USGLC looks forward to working with General Mattis to continue to strengthen America’s global leadership. We urge the Senate to move quickly to consider this well-deserved nomination.”

Profile on General James Mattis: bit.ly/2h0JTDn

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The USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council includes nearly 200 retired three and four-star generals and admirals, representing all five branches of the Armed Forces, united in support of advancing America’s national security by strengthening all the tools of national security — diplomacy and development, alongside a strong defense.

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influential network of 500 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.