What USJFCOM Does

What is USJFCOM?

Force Provider

Joint Trainer

Joint Capability Development

Joint Enabling Capabilities

Joint Concept Development and Experimentation

Reserve & Command Support

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Gen. Lance Smith

About Allied Command Transformation

Recent USJFCOM News

Norwegian armed forces, battle lab host Coalition Combat Identification test The preparation process for Bold Quest 2011 begins this month in Norway.  U.S., U.K. and Norwegian warfighters and analysts will test combat identification servers and interfaces during a 10-day event near Oslo. • Comment on this article at USJFCOMLive

President nominates Marine general as new commander

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has announced that the President has nominated U. S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. NATO has also agreed to appoint Mattis as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Mattis currently serves as commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command.

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(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 11, 2007) -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced today that President George W. Bush has nominated U. S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM).

Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., USJFCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense. Pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate, the general will oversee the command's roles in transformation, experimentation, joint training, interoperability and force provision and management as outlined in the Department of Defense's Unified Command Plan.

USJFCOM is a force of more than 1.16 million dedicated men and women, spanning USJFCOM's four service component commands and eight subordinate activities. USJFCOM personnel include members from each branch of the U.S. military, civil servants, contract employees, and consultants.

NATO has also agreed to appoint Mattis as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander-Transformation.

If confirmed, Mattis will replace Air Force Gen. Lance Smith, who announced his retirement earlier this summer after a career of 38 years.

Lt. Gen. Mattis currently serves as commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commander of U.S. Marine Forces Central Command.

The general entered the Marine Corps in 1972 and has commanded at multiple levels. As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade.

As a major, he commanded Recruiting Station Portland. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a colonel, he commanded 7th Marines (Reinforced).

Upon becoming a general officer, he commanded first the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and then Task Force 58, during Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan. As a major general, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the initial attack and subsequent stability operations in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Before assuming his current duties in California, he commanded the Marine Corps Combat Development Command as a lieutenant general and served as the deputy commandant for combat development.

He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.