Secretary Of Defense Releases Amazing Message To The Troops... Things Are About To Change Secretary of Defense pick General Mattis, nicknamed Mad Dog Mattis because of the badass things he has said and done throughout the years. One of his most famous lines is be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet. Now that Trump has been sworn into office Mattis went right to work by sending a message to our troops. Its good to be back and Im grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense. Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilian members of the department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country, he said in a statement. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind, he continued. Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future. Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people, said Mattis. I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you Ill do my best as your secretary, he concluded. 