James Mattis
Former Secretary of Defense · United States[1]
James Mattis, a retired four-star U.S. Marine Corps general, served as the 26th United States Secretary of Defense from January 20, 2017 to January 1, 2019. He announced his resignation on December 20, 2018, citing policy differences with President Trump over the Syria troop withdrawal.
- In office since
- January 20, 2017
- Left office
- January 1, 2019
- Born
- September 8, 1950
- Politics
- Independent; retired Marine Corps general who served as Defense Secretary in the first Trump administration.[1]
Earnings by year1
What each year added up to: salary, plus outside income, royalties, endorsements, prizes and investment income where a source reports them. A financial disclosure gives ranges, shown as such.
- 2018$199,700Total
- Secretary of Defense statutory salary[2]
- $199,700
Life phases1
One octagon for each phase of the life of James Mattis. Each of the eight axes is scored 0 to 5 against a written rubric from documented evidence, with its source; an axis without evidence is a gap, not a zero. There is no total and no ideal shape: it is a profile, not a ranking. Appearance and personality are not axes, because they cannot be scored from evidence.
No total and no ideal shape: a longer spoke means more of that axis, so a long Misconduct spoke is more documented misconduct.
Scores, rubric and sources
- 01Education4 of 5
- Medium confidenceHighest recorded degree: B.A. in history, Central Washington University (1971); M.A. in international security affairs, National War College (1994).[1]Highest attainment by then: 1 secondary school, 2 some college, 3 bachelor's degree, 4 master's or professional degree, 5 doctorate.
- 02Wealth2.5 of 5
- Medium confidenceDocumented income of $199,700 in 2018 is in the top 10% of US returns by adjusted gross income (IRS, tax year 2022, as tabulated by the Tax Foundation). Income, not net worth.[2]Net worth or income against the national thresholds of the time: 1 below the median household, 3 top 5%, 5 top 0.1%.
- 03Position4 of 5
- High confidenceFormer Secretary of Defense: a national-level executive office.[1]Scope of the role held: 1 entry level, 3 senior manager or legislator, 5 head of state or government, or the top role of a major institution.
- 04Public standing3 of 5
- Medium confidenceQuinnipiac University national poll fielded Apr 20-24, 2018 (released Apr 25): voters approve 59-22 of the job Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is doing; 1,193 registered voters nationwide.[6]Public approval or favourability where it was measured: 1 under 20%, 3 35 to 50%, 5 over 65%.
- 05HealthNo evidence
- Documented health where an examination or disclosure exists: 5 no documented concern, 1 a serious documented condition.
- 06MisconductNo evidence
- The documented legal and ethics record within the phase, as in the misconduct meter: 0 none documented, 1 only matters resolved in their favour, 2 an open matter, 3 one finding, 4 two or three, 5 four or more. More is more documented misconduct.
- 07Social goodNo evidence
- Assessed effects of what they did in the phase on health, safety, education, rights and the environment, from official statistics or peer-reviewed evidence: 0 clearly harmful, 2.5 mixed, 5 clearly beneficial.
- 08Economic goodNo evidence
- Assessed effects of what they did in the phase on efficiency, growth and fiscal sustainability, from CBO and peer-reviewed evidence, as in the good-for-society reading: 0 clearly harmful, 2.5 mixed, 5 clearly beneficial.
Health, weight and religion appear only where the person, their physician or a reputable outlet has published them; each links to its source.