Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis Returns to USU, Offers Hope in a Divisive Moment

On November 14, Utah State University welcomed retired Gen. Jim Mattis, former U.S. secretary of defense, to speak to a near-capacity audience at the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall in Logan. Organized by the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence (CAI) and attended by students and faculty from across campus, with the front rows filled with USU’s Air Force and Army ROTC cadets, the event was a remarkable demonstration of how university faculty can leverage professional and personal connections to create unique opportunities for students.

After securing permanent funding from the Utah System of Higher Education earlier this year, CAI was grateful for the chance to extend another invitation to Mattis, whose remarks during a USU visit in 2020 helped underscore the need to establish the Center in the first place. While the timing coincided with Mattis’ plans to visit the state, the topic of his USU presentation was intentional, occurring just a week after a pivotal presidential election and demonstrating CAI’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue during politically charged moments.

A Quick Turnaround but a Meaningful Impact

The event featuring the former defense secretary was organized in just two weeks, thanks to CAI Director Jeannie Johnson’s decade-long friendship with Mattis. The Center, which is housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS), worked with USU Event Services and the Caine College of the Arts to ensure the event’s success. Despite minimal publicity due to security concerns, tickets were claimed quickly, and faculty across campus encouraged students to attend the talk, even if it meant stepping out of class.

“It might surprise you that I would ask someone who has been a secretary of defense and a four-star Marine general to come and give a talk on bridge building,” Johnson said in her introduction. “So, I'd like to give you a little window into his character so [you can] understand why he is my pick for this moment … a moment of sharp polarization, especially in a moment when I think all of us would like to see the country come closer to being a better version of itself.”

Mattis delivered a 30-minute address, followed by a Q&A with questions solicited from students and faculty beforehand. His remarks emphasized collective problem-solving and the resilience of democratic systems, drawing on lessons from history and his extensive career.

A Call to Build Bridges

Citing leaders like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Martin Luther King Jr., Mattis articulated the importance of building bridges in times of division. He discussed the need for allies to maintain global security and stability and urged attendees to work together to safeguard democracy.

Patriotism, Mattis said, is “inclusive and uplifting … not vindictive or resentful. It's loving our country and our people, not hating others.”

He expressed concern about the spread of conspiracy theories and propaganda, highlighting how disinformation erodes trust. “We have citizens today gullible enough to believe the absolute worst about their fellow citizens,” Mattis said, but “even with all these challenges we face, I think we have it in our power to reclaim true patriotism.”

Mattis reminded the audience that America has faced darker times in its history and emerged stronger through compromise and unity. He emphasized the importance of NATO and alliances in navigating future global challenges but said the country was facing an even greater challenge from within.

“We have replaced trust and empathy with suspicion and contempt toward others,” he cautioned. “If destruction is to be our fate, as Lincoln warned long ago,” Mattis said, “you and I — we will be the cause.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

For many students, Mattis’ visit was transformative.

Caleb Dissel, a Jon M. Huntsman School of Business student minoring in anticipatory intelligence, said, “I left the talk with an intrepid sense of inspiration and with a fire to live up to my duties as an American.”

Lucas Davis, a graphic design student and CAI minor, reflected on how the presentation restored his confidence in the resilience of the American system. “I thought he might take digs at divisive figures. I thought he might be saddened by the strain on the union.” Instead, Mattis’ message had, in Davis’ words, “transcended all of that.”

Adam Tatro, a student pursuing CAI’s Master of Anticipatory Intelligence, noted the evolution of Mattis’ tone since his last visit to campus, saying that this presentation highlighted “the importance of history and using historical events to fuel our own questions and curiosity [and] to never stop learning.”

One student’s feedback after the event particularly resonated with Johnson: “I was really inspired by that speech. It's like a part of me healed.”

Celebrating CAI’s Growth

Mattis’ visit also functioned as a moment to reflect on CAI’s progress. Founded in 2018 with help from early proponents like Mattis, who was serving as the U.S. secretary of defense at the time, the Center has grown into a nationally recognized program that prepares students to tackle complex global challenges. Its recent award of permanent funding is a testament to its impact and potential.

Chris Corcoran, head of USU’s Data Analytics and Information Systems Department, praised the collaboration with Johnson and her team. “It’s a thrill for the Huntsman School … to collaborate so closely with CAI,” he said. “We’re so grateful for the opportunity to connect with General Mattis as we continue to grow our partnership with Jeannie and our colleagues in CHaSS.”

A Message of Hope

Mattis closed his remarks with a call to action for collective problem-solving and a reaffirmation of his faith in the American people.

“We cannot meet today and turn a blind eye to what has happened in our country, whether it be on January 6th or any other day since then … suffocating any chance of the very compromises in governance for problem-solving that our Founding Fathers required of us when they set it up,” he said and urged attendees to replace hateful rhetoric with the free competition of ideas.

For Johnson, the event encapsulated CAI’s mission. She was grateful for the opportunity to “show students that there are genuinely remarkable people in public service who continue to have faith in these institutions and are, are people who you can benefit from and look up to and [who] have high and exacting standards of integrity for themselves.”

“I hope this event captured that ethos,” she continued. “He did not pull punches on … how bad we have let things get but maintained faith in people being able to come together to fix it. And so, I wish that distinction could be understood with more clarity because I think more people would give themselves license to join in on it.”

As USU continues to expand programs like CAI, events like Mattis’ visit highlight the university’s commitment to preparing students for leadership in a complex world. Through strategic connections, impactful programming, and a focus on collaboration, the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence is equipping students to become bridge-builders in an era that desperately needs them.