Defense Secretary James Mattis spent much of his first full day on the job getting briefings, huddling with his top four-stars in the secure Pentagon briefing room known as “the Tank,” and establishing a “battle-rhythm,” Pentagon officials said Monday.
It was technically the new Pentagon chief’s second day on the job, having been sworn in Friday, and reporting for duty midday Saturday to begin what’s known in the military as “in-processing.”
Mattis spent about four hours in nearly empty Pentagon Saturday completing paperwork, and even submitting to the standard drug test.
“He used that time to complete his initial in-briefs for ethics and security, and to take an entry urinalysis, like everyone else in the Department of Defense does,” said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
Mattis has already appointed two members of his personal staff, retired Rear. Adm. Kevin Sweeney as his chief of staff and Rear Adm. Craig Faller, the Navy’s former chief of legislative affairs, as his senior military adviser.
Neither position requires Senate confirmation.
On his first full day in the office, Mattis began with an intelligence briefing that covered all the worlds’ hot spots, and one of his first calls was to his Canadian counterpart.
Traditionally, a Pentagon photographer takes an official portrait of the new secretary on his first day, but Mattis has been too busy for a sitting.
