Defense Secretary Ash Carter had some nice things to say about retired Marine Corps Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who is President-elect Trump’s pick to be his nominee for defense secretary.
During a speech this weekend at the Reagan Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Carter said he will work towards an “orderly transfer” to the next commander in chief before offering praise to Mattis.
“Let me also congratulate Gen. Jim Mattis for being chosen to take my place. I’ve worked with Jim for many years. He’s a friend and I hold him in the highest regard,” Carter said.
Trump said at a rally in Cincinatti on Thursday that he will make his announcement about Mattis official on Monday. As Trump’s nominee, Mattis will have to get a special excemption from the Senate, which must waive the requirement that a former officer be out of uniform for at least seven years before taking over the Pentagon, since Mattis retired only three years ago.
