Mattis returning to research role at Stanford think tank
WASHINGTON – The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is announcing that former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will join the public policy think tank to research and write about domestic and international security policy.
Mattis resigned three months ago after a series of policy conflicts with President Donald Trump. Trump has not yet nominated a successor; Patrick Shanahan, who was the deputy secretary during Mattis’ tenure, has been serving as the acting secretary since Jan. 1.
Mattis, a former Marine general, had been working as a national security specialist at Hoover when Trump nominated him to head the Pentagon in December 2016.
A Hoover announcement said Mattis will start May 1. The announcement quoted Mattis as saying he believes he has an obligation to pass along lessons, for the benefit of future generations.