Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis is busy building his Defense administration by naming a pair of Navy admirals to be his top advisers.
Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday filled two key positions on the Pentagon staff, choosing a two-star Navy admiral to be his senior military adviser and a retired Navy two-star to serve as chief of staff.
Rear Adm. Craig S. Faller will become Mattis’ top uniformed adviser, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. Retired Rear Adm. Kevin M. Sweeney will become Mattis’ chief of staff. Additional staff announcements are expected in the coming days and weeks, Davis added.
Mattis has known Faller and Sweeney for several years. Each worked for the retired Marine Corps general during his tenure as head of U.S. Central Command.
In these roles, both men will have considerable influence during internal policy discussions. Defense secretaries look to their advisers to provide candid, constructive advice on all manner of military operations and initiatives — and to speak up if they believe specific efforts are ill conceived.
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