As of January 20, 2017, James N. Mattis became the twenty-sixth Secretary of Defense under President Donald J. Trump. James was born in Richland, Washington and began his life of dedicated service to our country at the age of eighteen, following his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He was then given the position of Second Lieutenant upon his graduation in 1971. He has since been awarded many titles and positions in the United States Navy, as well as others in our Army. James Mattis was fully prepared for the responsibility of a position in the President's Cabinet. Four decades of uniformed service mark his experience in the armed forces. Having commanded every level of the Marines, he is quite experienced in managing a squad. Most of his four decades in uniform were spent on combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mattis then served as a Davies Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University following his 2013 retirement from the Marine Corps. This institution specializes in the studies of all necessary skills such as leadership, national security, strategy, innovation and effective use of military force. Now as Secretary of the Department of Defense, he, along with the President of the United States, directs the planning, advice and implementation of the nation's security policies. It also helps direct and control the actions of the Department of Defense. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As one of the largest departments in the government, the Department of Defense holds a tremendous amount of responsibility and importance. Their headquarters is in the prestigious Pentagon. In order to efficiently maintain and maintain the safety and security of our country, the department has a great burden to work efficiently and productively. The Department of Defense ensures that our country's defense installations and facilities are properly positioned, deployed and stationed, as well as the right qualities and capabilities to do the best job of protecting our country. This must happen without excessive stationing of troops and supplies. U.S. military forces work to combat and protect the public from the urgent threat of terrorism. With personnel around the world (over 450,000 civilians and military personnel overseas) and across the country, the Department of Defense operates at a massive scale, and when you add up all the sites nationwide, millions of acres are used. The size of the Department of Defense is truly incredible. With an overall budget of hundreds of billions of dollars and millions of employees, the Department truly has enormous reach and connection. The Department of Defense is directed and directed by the President of the United States as well as the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. Finally, the Department of Defense trains and equips soldiers in the three branches of the U.S. military: the Army, the Navy, and the Army. Air Force. They also oversee that each branch effectively trains its soldiers and personnel to fight wars, maintain peace and assist in disaster relief. The DOD also contributes to homeland security and defense. In 1789, under President George Washington, Congress created the War Department. A year later the Coast Guard was established. Then followed the Department of the Navy, created in 1798. "The decision to unify the different services under a single department led to the creation of the National Military Institute in,.